Arousing a fact of interest, the Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme for domestic LPG consumers in five districts in the state, namely Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Chittoor, Anantapur and East Godavari, will be rolled out on May 15, though there are reports that the implementation will be postponed to June 1 while an official announcement to this effect is expected by May 14.
To move further, if the DBT scheme comes into force as scheduled from May 15, all consumers will have to pay Rs 900 for their cooking gas cylinders irrespective of whether they have got their LPG connections linked with Aadhaar card and bank accounts or not. In fact, consumers will be categorised into Cash Transfer Compliance (CTC) customers (those who have requested in accordance with Aadhaar norms), and non-CTC consumers. Only 30% LPG consumers submitted UID
In the case of CTC customers, the subsidy amount of nearly Rs 460 will be credited directly into their bank accounts as soon as they book a cylinder. However, they can withdraw this subsidy amount from the bank, add their component of Rs 412.50, and pay the delivery boy the approximately Rs 900 at the time of cylinder delivery. On the contrary, in the case of non-CTC consumers, a grace period of three months has been given, till August 15, to become CTC compliant.
According to Madhukar Ingole, AP state coordinator for OMCs’ that they have categorised domestic LPG consumers into CTC and non-CTC consumers to implement DBT scheme from May 15. If they obey with the Aadhaar norm by August 15, they will get the subsidy benefit, otherwise they will lose the benefit.
Furthermore, Finance principal secretary, P.V. Ramesh had announced that all LPG consumers will continue to receive subsidised cylinders at Rs 412.50 till August 15 irrespective of whether they have submitted Aadhaar and bank account details at gas agencies or not.
As a factual conclusion, there are 25 lakh domestic LPG connections but only 30 per cent of them have submitted Aadhaar details both in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts together.
(AW:Samrat Biswas)
