New problem in LPG subsidy through direct benefit transfer

A new problem has arisen in the LPG subsidy into bank account through DBT scheme. According to the officials, 19 districts where scheme was launched two months ago, less than 40% of the bank accounts have been linked with oil companies’ database. According to the sources, before launching this scheme in rest of the regions Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will review the progress on August 1. Presently this scheme is running in 19 districts covering 72 lakh consumers and 600 distributors. An official told that out of 30,000 Aadhaar holders only 28% were linked with bank and rest are not in the condition to receive cash subsidy through their bank accounts. Government recently conducted a sample survey in those selected districts where this scheme has been launched. Public sector bank officials have blamed oil companies for delay in this. According to the officials, companies provided only 12 lakh applications to consumers which have been linked with their bank accounts. An executive director told that this is only 18% of the total population of these 19 districts. Actually we ourselves initiated to work for 22% more people and now banks are using mobile and internet banking applications to link customers having Aadhaar number. However, oil companies’ officials have blamed banks for non-linkage of Aadhaar and LPG distributors at branch level. An executive also said that in some banks this work is being done at headquarter level instead of branch level.

Jamshedpur police raided 5 cyber cafes in the region and found a heap of forged Aadhar card, driving license, pan card, voter card and other certificates. Fake certificates of Jharkhand and central government were being made at these cafes. Police is suspecting hand of a big gang behind this but is not sharing any information in this regard. Owner of two cyber cafes have been arrested and they are being interrogated. Police said that they will continue this campaign at other cyber cafes as well and will try to find out the work being done over there.

Aadhaar enrollment began in Sohna block in Gurgaon from August 1. There are about 4 dozen villages and Sohna town in this block. Aadhaar enrollment work is being done under the supervision of SDM south Vivek Kaliya.