More districts under LPG direct benefit transfer

The cabinet Thursday approved a scheme to expand the direct benefit transfer scheme for domestic cooking gas cylinder consumers to 269 more districts Jan 1.

According to Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, the pilot of the scheme was started in 20 districts and the response was encouraging.

Hence, the cabinet decided to expand it which will be covered in a staggered manner starting Sep 1. "I hope people will be more efficient in using LPG," Chidambaram said.

The minister said false cases were being weeded out due to the DBT scheme in 20 pilot districts.

He said consumers are entitled to nine subsidised LPG cylinders a year.

The minister said the list of beneficiaries was being sent to banks so that accounts might be opened and the Unique Identification Authority of India has been asked to focus on preparation of Aadhaar cards in the districts to be covered under the plan.

--Indo-Asian News service

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