Consumers across the country will start getting LPG subsidy directly as cash into their bank accounts from Thursday, so as to enable them to buy cooking fuel at market price.
The direct benefit transfer of LPG (DBTL) scheme PAHAL was re-launched in 54 districts on November 15 in the first phase and will be launched in the rest of the 622 districts of the country from 1st January.
Initially when the NDA government had come to power, there was speculation that the government may dump the Aadhaar programme. However, the Modi government has decided to use Aadhaar to implement various social schemes. It is expected to help government to save upto Rs 14,000 crore in subsidies.
Earlier, the DBTL scheme was launched on June 1, 2013 and finally covered 291 districts. However, it required the consumer to mandatory have an Aadhaar number for availing LPG subsidy.
According to the new modified scheme, consumers who do not have Aadhaar number, can receive cash directly in their bank account without producing Aadhaar. Consumers, who do not have the Aadhaar number, will have to link their bank account directly with their 17 digit LPG consumer ID.