Govt hopeful of covering all LPG consumers under Aadhaar

Days after the government made Aadhaar mandatory for availing cooking gas (LPG) subsidy, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today hoped that the 2 crore users who do not have unique identification number would be able to acquire them during the two-month grace period.
Government currently gives 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rates per household in a year. The subsidy on every cylinder is transfered in advance directly into bank accounts of individuals, who then buy the cooking fuel at market rates.
"The new Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 mandates having an Aadhaar number must for beneficiaries to avail of subsidies," he told reporters here.

In line with the act, his ministry on September 30 issued a notification mandating that "individual desirous of availing LPG subsidies are hereby required to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar or undergo Aadhaar authentication".
He said there are 18 crore LPG users in the country, of which 16.5 crore get subsidies. Of the subsidised LPG users, 14.5 crore have already got their Aadhaar seeding done with their LPG connections.
For those not yet having Aadhaar, the Oil Ministry gave time till November 30, 2016, to make application for enrolment for the unique identification number.

"Of the remaining, I am hopeful that all the genuine users will be able to get Aadhaar by November 30," he said.

Oil marketing companies have been asked to faciliate enrolments.
Till the time Aadhaar is assigned, LPG subsidy would be transfered based on bank photo passbook and Aadhaar enrolment ID slip or his voter ID card or ration card or kisan photo passbook or passport of driver license along with copy of request for Aadhaar enrolment.
Also, an undertaking in a set format has to be given that the individual is not availing LPG subsidy under some other consumer number of an oil marketing company, the order said.
"This notification shall take effect immediately in all states except Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu & Kashmir," the notification said.