Only 20 of the 51 test districts have more than 80% Aadhaar coverage, he said
Utpal Bhaskar
While the Unique Identification Authority of India is mandated to issue 600 million Aadhaar numbers by 2014, so far 200 million, or about 16% of the population, have got them. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint
New Delhi: India will be unable to roll out the direct cash transfer scheme for domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in around two-thirds of the targeted 51 districts from 1 January next year, said petroleum secretary G.C. Chaturvedi.
The Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance, fighting allegations of corruption and trying to build up support ahead of general elections in 2014, has dubbed the scheme to pay subsidies directly as a “game changer”.
“Direct transfer of gas subsidy is a good method to reach directly to the beneficiaries and will reduce pilferage but it is not easy as yet,” Chaturvedi said at a conference in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The penetration of the unique ID or Aadhaar numbers that the cash transfer scheme is based upon is currently around 200 million, he said. Only 20 of the 51 test districts have more than 80% Aadhaar coverage, he said.
India subsidizes most fuels and its bill towards this is expected to be `1.67 trillion this year.
While the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is mandated to issue 600 million Aadhaar numbers by 2014, so far 200 million, or about 16% of the population, have got them.
“Wherever it is less than 80-90%, it (Aadhaar) can’t be the basis of transfer.
This will create exclusion... It is a very difficult task. While 20 districts are ready, for the balance 31 districts it will take another one to two months,” Chaturvedi added.
There are 140 million LPG connections in the country, of which 99.57% are for domestic use, comprising 14.2kg LPG cylinders, according to official data. The LPG customer population covers around 56% of India’s total.
UIDAI, chaired by Nandan Nilekani, was set up to assign 12-digit unique identity numbers.