The Central Government’s ambitious Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL) Scheme to distribute subsidy on domestic cooking gas cylinders through the bank accounts of consumers is likely to be launched in the state from December 1.
Officials with the oil companies in the state have said that the subsidy through the banking system will be initiated as per schedule, unless the Central Government makes any last-minute revision to the schedule. However, the officials clarified that the Centre is firm on its decision in this regard and there is hardly any chance of any revision in the schedule.
The officials further said that to avail the benefit of the DBTL scheme, all the consumers are directed to enrol their names in the scheme by linking their Aadhaar card number and LPG consumer number to their bank accounts before November 30.
Sources with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), the largest LPG supplier in the state, said that 75 per cent of its consumers have been enrolled in the scheme. According to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) authorities, among their total 22 lakh consumers, as many as 55 per cent people have been enrolled in the scheme till now.
The oil companies also requested the consumers to enroll their names inthe scheme before the deadline to avail the benefit of the scheme expires.
“The customers who are unable or unwilling to register themselves for the scheme will become ineligible for receiving subsidised cooking gas, after a grace period of three months - which has been set as February 28, 2014. During this period they will continue to get the LPG cylinders at subsidised rates just like they are getting now, with the upper limit placed at a maximum nine subsidised cylinders,” officials said.
They explained that all Aadhaar-linked domestic LPG consumers will get an advance on their bank account as soon as they book the first subsidised cylinder before delivery.
“After the first subsidised cylinder is delivered to such consumers, the next subsidy will again get credited in their bank account and which can then be available for the purchase of the next subsidised cylinder at market rate,” they added.
Meanwhile, oil companies noted that the scheme will prove helpful in reducing the black marketing of LPG cylinders and misuse of government subsidies by the people. “There is a group which regularly indulges in black marketing of LPG cylinders across the state. Once the government launches the DBTL scheme, such groups will be wiped out from the society. Moreover, the practice of availing of multi-connections in the name of the same person or for the same family can also be put to an end with the introduction of the scheme,” they said.
The scheme was successfully launched in Pathanamthitta and Wayanad in June this year.