The NDA government could remove some 3.34 crore duplicate/fake cooking gas consumers thanks to the relaunch of Direct Benefits Transfer for LPG (PAHAL) scheme, leading to “savings of Rs 14,672 crore” in FY15, reports fe Bureau in New Delhi.
By: FE Bureau | November 12, 2015 12:23 AM
The NDA government could remove some 3.34 crore duplicate/fake cooking gas consumers thanks to the relaunch of Direct Benefits Transfer for LPG (PAHAL) scheme, leading to “savings of Rs 14,672 crore” in FY15, reports fe Bureau in New Delhi. This was even as less than half of the consumers enjoying cooking subsidy have seeded their bank accounts with Aadhaar.
Of 14.85 cooking gas consumers, only 7.24 crore or about 49% have linked their bank accounts and Aadhaar, according to a report by Kotak Institutional Equities. This indicates there is scope for further improvement in the targeting of subsidies.
The government is reportedly considering a new law to overcome the Supreme Court order that said Aadhaar can’t be a must for people to qualify for government doles and welfare benefits.
Meanwhile, during FY11-15, LPG consumers in six states — Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Jharkhand — have seen a rise from 31 million to 51 million. Now, these states accounts for 28% of all LPG connections in India, against 25% earlier.
First Published on November 12, 2015 12:23 am