LPG subsidy scheme in Odisha from Nov

Direct benefits transfer of LPG subsidy (DBT-L) scheme in Odisha by the Centre will be launched soon. It is set to hit people hard as majority of the population is yet to obtain the mandatory Aadhaar card for the purpose.

The DBT-L scheme for LPG consumers will be introduced in four districts of Cuttack, Puri, Khurda and Balangir with LPG consumers required to have Aadhaar-linked bank accounts for availing the subsidy.

Effective from November 1, domestic LPG will be sold at market price of around Rs 900. Consumers will get the cash subsidy of over Rs 400 that will be directly deposited in their Aadhaar-linked bank account in advance.

In the four districts where the DBT-L scheme is to be launched, Aadhaar penetration has been far less than even half of the population, which has raised questions on the hurry to implement the scheme in the State.

Though the Centre has allowed consumers without Aadhaar cards time till January 31, 2014 to complete the formalities, doubts still persist as the process from enrolment to actual generation of cards and despatch to the beneficiaries takes months.

Compounding the problems, there is no information on how and where to enrol for Aadhaar card in the State. (Source – The Times of India)