Mehakdeep Grewal, Hindustan Times Patiala, September 28, 2013
The future of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for LPG subsidies hangs in fire as even before the deadline October 1, the outsourced agency 'Vyam Tech' which responsible for making Aadhaar cards in Patiala has wrapped up its machines due to non-payment of salary.
Without the Aadhaar cards, a mandatory to avail subsidy, the beneficiaries are left in dark.
There seems no end to the controversies surrounding UPA government's ambitious project 'UID'. Out of the total 367412 LPG beneficiaries in the district only 47588 (13% of total) have got their Aadhaar cards and bank accounts linked. While others are left in the lurch, as the outsourced agency's contract ended on Friday. With no machines functioning, the making of card has come to standstill.
Sources said the agency had refused to extend its contract as total payment of over six lakhs of 45 operators has been pending over past three months.
Assistant district food civil supply controller (ADFSC) Renu Bala Verma said 94% of the population had been enrolled. However, the Aadhaar cards which were made in 2011 by outsourced agency Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System Ltd (DIMITs) company were being remade as they data had failed to reach the Bangalore office.
Verma added that due to lack of co-ordination among the gas agencies and banks the total number of beneficiaries was varying.
She said till the government issues any order, the deadline for DBT would not be extended even if 100% enrolment is not done.
"We had asked the gas agency's to install Aadhaar card making machines in their offices to accelerate the process but they refused on space crunch grounds."
"After the Supreme Court's ruling that Aadhaar cards are not mandatory for availing government subsidies people have become more reluctant and the process has been delayed,"she said.
District food civil supply controller (DFSC) Ajaiveer Sarao said 40 more machines will be installed and contract has been given to a new company.
The distributors at the gas agency whined that the bank officials delaying the process as they were not collecting the Aadhaar card and gas connection details of customers from the agency.
Bharat gas agency manager Gyanak Singh said at the agency 1800 customers had deposited their forms; however, only 500 forms had been collected by the bank.
Bank coordinator HS Rekhi said the distributors have been told to provide the banks with the details so that seeding of accounts can be done.
Joginder Singh a LPG beneficiary said, "I had applied for Aadhaar card six months ago, however, I haven't received it, I am not sure if I will get the subsidy in my account or not."