Manu Aiyappa, TNN | Jan 12, 2015, 07.49PM IST
BENGALURU: Vindya S (name changed), a homemaker from Hebbal, was perplexed when she received a message from gas agency that her LPG connection will be suspended in 15 days if she fails to link Aadhaar number with the bank account. She had applied for Aadhaar card recently and wanted some more time. But, her efforts to convince the staff at the gas agency did not yield any result. Vindya's is not a lone case; many customers are facing this harassment and dilemma.
Consumers are being stalked by gas agencies reportedly at the instance of oil companies to bring all their customers under the Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL). This is despite the Supreme Court order in March 2014, directing the Centre to immediately withdraw all notifications making Aadhaar cards mandatory for availing benefits under social security schemes.
"Gas agencies cannot hold their customers at gun point to get Aadhaar and bank account linked especially in the wake of the Supreme Court order. They should do it without intimidating and setting deadlines. I will hold a meeting with all the stakeholders to put an end to such harassment,'' food and civil supplies minister Dinesh R Gundu Rao told reporters on Monday.
The minister said after January 15, he will invite oil companies, representatives of gas agencies and banks for talks and ask them to abide by the apex court order on the issue.
Bengaluru district is among the 34 cities that have been included under the scheme.
Dinesh said the government has decided not to force anyone to link Aaadhar number with ration cards considering that many have still not got their Aadhaar cards.
"As of now, only 40% of 1.3-crore BPL families have got their Aadhaar number linked to ration cards. The Centre is planning to take forward the Aadhaar scheme by setting up counters in every nook and corner of the country. This will ensure more people have Aadhaar cards. Till such time we have decided to go slow,'' he added.
He, however, said linking of Aadhaar number with LPG connection and ration cards will eventually become mandatory to avail subsidy.
"Gas agencies cannot hold their customers at gun point to get Aadhaar and bank account linked especially in the wake of the Supreme Court order. They should do it without intimidating and setting deadlines. I will hold a meeting with all the stakeholders to put an end to such harassment,'' food and civil supplies minister Dinesh R Gundu Rao told reporters on Monday.
The minister said after January 15, he will invite oil companies, representatives of gas agencies and banks for talks and ask them to abide by the apex court order on the issue.
Bengaluru district is among the 34 cities that have been included under the scheme.
Dinesh said the government has decided not to force anyone to link Aaadhar number with ration cards considering that many have still not got their Aadhaar cards.
"As of now, only 40% of 1.3-crore BPL families have got their Aadhaar number linked to ration cards. The Centre is planning to take forward the Aadhaar scheme by setting up counters in every nook and corner of the country. This will ensure more people have Aadhaar cards. Till such time we have decided to go slow,'' he added.
He, however, said linking of Aadhaar number with LPG connection and ration cards will eventually become mandatory to avail subsidy.