Direct benefit transfer for LPG in Nagpur from Oct 1

* The scheme has been launched in Wardha and Amravati districts of Vidarbha from June nad September

Staff Reporter
Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL) scheme is being extended to 30 more districts of Maharashtra by January 1, 2014 in a phased manner depending upon Aadhaar Card penetration. In the immediate phase, the scheme will be launched in Nagpur and Gondia districts of Vidarbha region from October 1.
The scheme was first launched in Wardha and Amravati districts of Vidarbha region from June 1 and September 1 respectively, in the first phase. Now, remaining 30 districts are being covered in a phased manner. In the second phase, the scheme will be launched in Nagpur, Gondia, Dhule, Ratnagiri, Thane, Jalgaon, and Sangli from October 1.
Prashant Kale, District Supply Officer (Nagpur) told ‘The Hitavada’ that a meeting of the Sales Officers of gas agencies, officials of Civil Supplies Department, and officers of banks would be called soon to gear up for implementation of DBTL in Nagpur city and district. To ensure effective implementation, data regarding Aadhaar numbers and bank accounts was being collected. Soon, appeal would be issued to the people to clear formalities so that they got benefits under DBTL scheme.
It will be followed by launch of the DBTL scheme in Bhandara, Chandrapur, Akola, Nandurbar, Ahmednagar, Jalna, Pune, Latur, Nashik, Aurangabad, and Satara districts from November 1. Buldhana, Kolhapur, and Osmanabad districts will be covered under the scheme from December 1. From January 1, 2014, nine other districts namely Washim, Yavatmal, and Gadchiroli from Vidarbha region and Mumbai (including Mumbai Suburban and Mumbai City), Beed, Solapur, Raigarh, Nanded, Hingoli will be covered.

Grace period of three months
Under the DBTL Scheme, cash subsidy is transferred for LPG cylinders directly into the bank accounts of LPG consumers while the sale happens at the market price. For the consumers, a grace period of three months is granted from the date of launch of the scheme in a particular area.
To avail transfer of cash subsidy into the bank account, Aadhaar number of LPG consumer has to be linked to the consumer number and bank account of the consumer. For the purpose, grace period of three months is being provided from date of launch. During the grace period, all consumers continue to get LPG cylinders at subsidised rate.
After the grace period is over, all LPG consumers have to pay for LPG cylinders at market price. Linkage via Aadhaar number is required for transfer of cash subsidy into bank account directly. Thus, only those linking their Aadhaar numbers to both -- their bank account and LPG consumer number -- will be able to receive cash subsidy in their bank accounts. Once the grace period is over, consumers will receive cash subsidy as and when they link their Aadhaar numbers for the balance entitlement.

Want more details?
If one wants more details about the scheme and methodology involved, one can find answers on the website http://www.petroleum.nic.in/dbtl/. The website provides details about Aadhaar-enabled banks, status of linkage of Aadhaar number to bank account and LPG consumer number, frequently asked questions about the scheme etc.
Aadhaar number is not required to avail LPG cylinders at non-subsidised rate. LPG consumers not desirous of availing subsidy on LPG cylinders are not required to furnish their Aadhaar numbers. Under the DBTL Scheme, all LPG consumers will receive their LPG cylinders at full market price and will get their subsidy directly in their bank accounts upto a capped limit of nine LPG cylinders per year. 

(Published in The Hitavada CityLine on September 5, 2013)