COUNTDOWN TO DIRECT CASH TRANSFER

The November 1 deadline for rolling out the scheme for direct transfer of subsidy on LPG cylinders to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts in Khurda, Cuttack, Puri and Balangir districts is fast approaching. But few in these districts have received their 12-digit Aadhaar numbers, without which the subsidy cannot be credited to the accounts. According to officials of the directorate of census operation, though 4.19crore people of the state have been targeted for Aadhaar cards, only 33lakh have received them so far.At present, consumers in the state can get nine gas cylinders a year at subsidised rate. For the rest, they have to pay market rate. Chief secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra held a meeting with officials of the census operation and oil companies on Saturday and stressed covering as many people in these districts under the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) so that they could avail the Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG (DBTL) scheme. Director of census operation Bishnupada Sethi said the second phase of Aadhaar enrolment would start “soon” in these four districts. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation will hold camps in every ward to enrol people who were left out in the initial phase. As the countdown for the direct benefit transfer — a dream project of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh — starts, The Telegraph answers Aadhaar-related questions on the minds of LPG customers.

DBTL: Deadline and formalities

Till November 1, LPG consumers in Khurda, Cuttack, Puri and Balangir districts can link Aadhaar number to LPG consumer number and bank accounts

Domestic LPG cylinders will be sold at market price after that

LPG consumers will get cash subsidy in advance directly into the Aadhaar linked bank account

Consumers who are unable to complete formalities by November 1 will receive subsidies LPG cylinders as they are today in grace period which ends on December 31

After December 31, all consumers will have to pay market price for LPG cylinder and subsidy will only be available to those who have completed formalities

Balance entitlement can be availed after consumer completes formalities

To enrol for DBTL

Obtain Aadhaar number

Link Aadhaar number to existing bank account by filling Form-1, which is available with gas agencies or select petrol pumps

Link Aadhaar number with LPG consumer number

To obtain Aadhaar number

Go to nearby Aadhaar enrolment camp or offices such as local tehsil office or municipality or municipal corporation and enrol name by filling up form

After a few days, probably a month, a private agency appointed by Electronics Corporation of India Limited will collect biometric data such as iris scan and fingerprints

Data will be sent to the UIDAI centre in Ranchi, where a Aadhaar number will be generated

The number will be dispatched to you through ordinary post in three to four months

To link Aadhaar number with bank account

Fill Form-1 which links bank account to Aadhaar number

Deposit it at your bank branch/ drop box at your LPG distributor premises/select company petrol pumps

If you do not have a bank account, open one and link it to your Aadhaar number

To link Aadhaar number with LPG consumer number, either

fill Form-2, which is LPG linking form and available with gas agencies or select petrol pumps

submit Form-2 to your LPG distributor along with enclosures (copy of address proof)

call 180-02333-555 and register your Aadhaar number

log on to www.rasf.uidai.gov.in, follow procedure

call your gas company’s number, follow instructions on phone (Indane: 9088324365; HP Gas: 9088823456; Bharat Gas: 9433056789)

register via SMS from your registered mobile number with your gas distributor

send filled in Form-2, along with enclosures, to address given at bottom of the form