‘The subsidy amount is not being transferred to customers into their bank accounts’
CPI(M) city unit members staging a dharna in front of the Sub-Collector's office in Vijayawada on Monday.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) staged a dharna opposing linking of supply of subsidised LPG with Aadhar cards, in front of the Sub-Collector's office here on Monday.
Addressing the gathering, CPI (M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao said that the cost of LPG cylinder increased due to linking of it to Aadhar cards. The consumers were forced to shell out Rs. 1016 per cylinder from September 1. The subsidy amount was not transferred to the customers into their bank accounts. In some cases, the money was transferred into pension accounts though the beneficiary gave details of some other account.
The government was not depositing Rs. 435 to the consumers as promised. The subsidy was coming down significantly as the government was collecting Rs. 25 towards VAT and cut in subsidy of Rs. 25, he said.
Half of the population did not receive their Aadhar cards, and have no bank accounts.
The commoner was puzzled how the scheme could be implemented when the Aadhar cards were not issued to more than half of the people in the city.
The banks were not willing to open accounts, he said.
The gas agencies were collecting exorbitant amounts from the consumers even for transferring the Deepam connections onto family member's name.
The prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed. And the Cash Transfer Scheme was another burden on the commoner.
Instead of implementing the Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS), the government should have strengthened the Public Distribution System, he felt, adding, “The CTS should not be linked to supply of gas.”
Later, the CPI(M) leaders submitted a memorandum to Sub Collector. They wanted the government to direct the bankers to allow the people to open zero balance accounts. They also wanted the government to supply all 9 commodities under Amma hastam scheme.
CPI(M) leaders Donepudi Kasinath, D.Vishnuvardhan, U V Ramaraju, K.Sridevi, K. Saroja, B.Satyababu and others were present.