DBT scheme delayed in Kolkata due to low Aadhaar penetration

KOLKATA, INDIA: The low penetration of Aadhaar cards among LPG consumers in Kolkata has led to delay in the transfer of LPG subsidy to the bank accounts of consumers.

Currently, only 55,000 people have received Aadhaar cards which is just a percent of the population in the city. As most of the consumers are yet to get their Aadhaar cards, the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme is likely to get delayed.

As per Government's decision, consumers can avail subsidy on LPG, provided their bank accounts are linked with their Aadhaar cards and this scheme will come into effect from October, 2013. Of the 32 crore Aadhaar cards issued across the nation only 80 lakh bank accounts have been linked to the unique identity numbers so far.

A pilot project for LPG subsidy transfer will cover 20 districts in the country by May 15. A photocopy of the Aadhaar card should be submitted by the customer to the distributor.

Customers with Aadhaar numbers will have to provide a legible photocopy of the Aadhaar Card to his or her distributors show-room or deliver it to the oil company with Consumer Number, Name, Distributor Name, mobile number etc.

"Because of the low infiltration of Aadhaar cards among consumers, it is unlikely that the DBT can be applicable to consumers in the city and the state. There needs to be 85% penetration of Aadhaar among consumers before DBT can be launched. So, Sikkim will start getting DBT far earlier than West Bengal," a Times of India report quoted West Bengal LPG Dealers' Association general secretary Bijon Bihari Biswas, as saying.