Even as the district boasts a comparatively high performance in the linkage of Aadhaar number with the banks and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) agencies concerned for the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, over two lakh consumers are yet to cooperate with the Central project, which is being implemented in 34 districts all over India.
The reluctance, according to officials, is mainly because of the automatic termination of multiple LPG connections owned by individuals after the completion of the DBT formalities.
The delay in the generation of Aadhaar number too has been an issue for some consumers.
As per the official records available from the District Lead Bank, so far 61 per cent of the eligible LPG consumers have linked their Aadhaar number with banks and the gas agencies concerned. The total number of such beneficiaries is estimated to be 3,84,169. They are also receiving the subsidy credited to their bank account. But, for the remaining population, the process is either midway or yet to begin. As per official figures, 2,47,723 consumers are yet to complete the linkage process.
Only gas agenciesThe records with the Lead Bank show that some of the consumers have already submitted their Aadhaar number to the gas agencies concerned, but they are yet to link it with the banks for availing the DBT.
As per the standing instructions from the government, only people who have linked their Aadhaar number with the banks and the gas agencies will be allowed the subsidy after the compulsory implementation of the project.
“Now, the total number of LPG consumers who are eligible for the subsidy is 6,31,892 in Kozhikode district. The linkage would be complete only with the cooperation of the remaining population,” says Lead Bank manager P.V. Surendran. He says that the district stands second at the national level in completing the DBT process in the ongoing second phase. In Kerala, Kozhikode stands first with 61 per cent linkage, he adds.
National averageAccording to Mr. Surendran, the achievement is creditworthy compared to the national average of 56 per cent. “At the national level, the DBT is now available for 69 lakh consumers,” he adds.
In the wake of recent LPG price revision, the DBT is likely to draw in more consumers — who currently depend on private suppliers — to subsidised gas.
After the price revision, the private dealers are charging Rs.2,050 for a 14-kg LPG cylinder and Rs.1,350 for a 12-kg cylinder.
