Pune: Over 40,000 students in PCMC schools receive school kits through DBT initiative in just one month

Pimpri, 16th July 2025: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has successfully distributed school kits to more than 40,861 students across its 134 civic schools within a month of reopening. This has been made possible through the effective implementation of a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) initiative, using e-RUPI—a secure, cashless, and contactless digital voucher system.

With the new academic year beginning on June 16, PCMC’s Education Department ensured that every student receive essential learning materials without delay. In collaboration with the Bank of Maharashtra, school kits worth approximately Rs 15.56 crore have already been disbursed under this initiative.

Each kit comprises 12 quality items from reputed brands, selected for their educational utility. The e-RUPI mechanism allows parents or guardians to receive a pre-paid QR code voucher via SMS, which can be redeemed only for school kits, eliminating the possibility of misuse. The process does not require a bank account and includes OTP-based verification for added security.

“This initiative is helping us ensure that every child receives quality educational materials quickly and transparently,” said PCMC Commissioner and Administrator Shekhar Singh. “Daily reviews are being conducted to monitor the progress of distribution. We are committed to completing the school kit distribution for all remaining present students by July 31.”

Additional Commissioner Pradip Jambhale Patil added, “From the first day of school, we began rolling out the kits. In the past month alone, more than Rs 15 crore has been transferred digitally, prioritising materials that empower students in their learning.”

Administrative Officer Sangeeta Bangar, who is overseeing the initiative’s on-ground execution, noted, “Through this digital e-RUPI process, we’ve reached over 40,000 students in just one month. The partnership with the Bank of Maharashtra has made implementation smoother. We are now focused on ensuring that all remaining students receive their kits without delay.”