Ashish Roy, TNN Oct 25, 2013, 03.36AM IST
NAGPUR: The central government's decision to charge the market price for gas cylinders from this month has wreaked havoc upon the poor, with many unable to cough up Rs 1,100 to buy a cylinder.
Until September, a cylinder cost Rs 450 as the gas companies sold it at a subsidized price. Even now, if you had booked one in September you will get it at this price. But for bookings done in October, the consumer will have to pay the market price while the difference of Rs 650 will be deposited in his or her account. However, this will happen only when your gas agency and bank account are linked to your Aadhaar card.
In many cases, poor people have not filled up the forms as they thought cylinders would be available at subsidized rates till December 31. However, this is the last date for linking. Oil companies have already started selling cylinders at the market price.
Some of the poor consumer have completed the formalities but the linking has not happened within a week as promised. This has forced some of them to refuse a refill.
"I had filled up forms in the first week of October. I went to the bank on Monday to ask about linking, but they said it was yet to take place. The clerk told me that it would take some more time. In any case there was no need to worry till January, he said. However, when the gas delivery man came to my place today he asked for Rs 1,100 and said that the subsidy would be deposited in my account. I didn't have this amount. Next month, when I get my salary I will go to the gas agency and request a refill," said Pushpa Bhagat of Jattarodi.
Chandabai Verma of Bhamti said that she didn't know cylinders would be available at market rates from October itself. "The gas agency people told me that I had to fill up the forms before December 31. There was no news in the newspapers either. This is injustice to poor people. I had saved only Rs 450 for the cylinder. I had to refuse a refill. I don't know how I'll manage if I don't get a refill early next month," she said.