Rupees 3.5 lakh cash-transfer compliant cases pending
Neha Madaan, TNN | Dec 27, 2014, 07.05AM IST
PUNE: From January 1, 2015, the Modified Direct Benefit Transfer of the LPG scheme will begin in Pune, but the number of cash transfer compliant customers (those ready to receive the subsidy directly in their bank accounts) in the district is a dismal 9.25 lakh or a mere 37%. The minimum percentage of CTC customers for the launch of the scheme should be 50%.
In addition, Aadhaar card numbers of approximately 12.5 lakh customers have been linked with their LPG dealers' database, of which, 15% are yet to be linked with the customers' accounts by the banks.
The oil minister recently reviewed the scheme's progress in Pune and directed banks in the district to bridge this gap by linking these Aadhaar numbers to customers' accounts as early as possible.
The scheme's progress in Pune has been slow and oil marketing companies have a huge task of converting as many as 3.5 lakh customers into cash transfer compliant customers in five days.
The Modified Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG scheme can help consumers get the LPG subsidy directly into their bank accounts without Aadhaar. "The oil minister has told banks to bridge this gap. After a recent meeting with the district collector, it was decided to share the Aadhaar card data of the 15% customers with the banks, so that they can link the respective accounts to the numbers, thereby increasing the CTC customers to 50% in Pune district," said an oil marketing company officials.
Oil marketing companies have told customers without Aadhaar cards to approach their distributors with a copy of the front page of their bank pass book and a cancelled cheque to link their bank accounts to their LPG ID to become CTC customers.
LPG cylinders will be available at market rate from April 1, next year. An company official said those who do not complete this linking process will not receive the subsidy in their accounts.
Non-CTC customers will be given three months to become CTC customers from January 1, 2015. During this period, they would continue to get their entitlement of subsidized cylinders.
At the end of the grace period, non-CTC LPG customers will get a three-month 'parking period', when they will be provided cylinders at market prices.