TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The north Goa and south Goa districts are among the 54 districts across the country where a modified direct benefit transfer of LPG (DBTL) will be re-launched from Saturday. Nearly 80 percent of the local consumers are already covered under the scheme originally launched in June 2013.
Civil Supplies Director Deepali Naik said that as part of the changes, it is not mandatory for consumers to have an Aadhaar card number, but having a bank account is a necessary requirement.
“Consumers not having Aadhaar number can receive cash directly in their bank accounts. They have to give bank account details to the OMC distributor or alternatively they can give their 17 digit LPG ID to their banks. However, as and when they get Aadhaar, they may have to shift to Aadhaar-based cash transfer,” she said.
Those who joined the scheme last year and received cash subsidy, only need to check their cash transfer complaint (CTC) status on www.MyLPG.in . The scheme applies only for 12 cylinders per financial year.
After November 15, consumers of 54 districts across 11 states will be given a three month grace period where they receive the cylinders at subsidized rate and thereafter an additional three months will be granted as ‘Parking Period during which they will have to buy cylinders at market rate.’
“If the consumer joins the scheme within the Parking Period, the subsidy as per entitlement and consumption during this will be transferred to his/her bank account,” she said.
In the first phase, the scheme covering 54 districts will benefit 2.33 crore households, while the balance districts will be covered by January 1, 2015.
Representatives of Oil Companies who were also present for the briefing said in Goa, about 3.43 lakh out of a total 4.37 lakh households have already seeded with bank and Aadhaar numbers to avail the scheme. Meanwhile, for those who do not have Aadhaar cards, government has made a provision to get it done ‘on the spot’ at four centres in Panjim, Margao, Vasco and Ponda.
Those who do not wish to avail the subsidy can opt out voluntarily. A total of 9000 citizens across the country have already opted out of the subsidy. However, if they want to re-join, it would be possible only after the completion of the financial year.
