Second phase of PAHAL (DBTL) scheme to be launched in Gujarat today

The Direct Benefit transfer of LPG (DBTL) scheme PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) will be launched in 33 districts of Gujarat on Friday. The move is part of the national launch across 622 districts of the country in the second phase from January 1, 2015 including Consumers who wish to join the scheme will have to either link their Aadhaar number into their bank account and their LPG consumer or if they do not possess Aadhaar number, they will have to link their bank account directly with their 17 digit LPG ID.

According to an official communique from Indian Oil Corporation, once a consumer joins the scheme, he will get the cylinders at market price and will receive LPG subsidy directly in his bank account. A sum of Rs 568 will be paid in advance to the consumer, in the bank account, who now joins the scheme, as soon as he makes the first booking for a cylinder after joining the scheme to ensure that he has extra money required to pay for the first LPG cylinder at market price. This is in addition to subsidy due on each cylinder.

Moreover, camps are being set up at various banks, and LPG distributor's premises to enable LPG consumers to open bank account and enroll for Aadhaar if they need to do so to join the scheme. To keep consumers informed about their status in the scheme, consumers will receive SMS at every stage in the scheme.

To avail of this feature all LPG consumers are requested to register their mobile number with their distributor if they have not done so. They are also advised to receive cylinders only with cash memos to be assured of their subsidy transfer. The scheme will cover over 153 million consumers across 676 districts of the country.

It needs to be mentioned here that currently over 65 million consumers i.e. 43 per cent have already joined the scheme and will receive subsidy in their bank account. The State of Gujarat has 6.55 million LPG consumers, of which 2432689 consumers have already become cash transfer compliant (CTC).

DBTL is designed to ensure that the benefit meant for the genuine domestic customer reaches them directly and is not diverted. By this process public money will be saved. All LPG customers are requested to immediately join the scheme as above. All LPG consumers who are yet to join the scheme must do so quickly. Those who do not have bank accounts must first open bank accounts and then submit the required details to their LPG distributor/Bank for becoming cash transfer compliant.