The lPG cylinder consumers of four districts such as Khurda, Cuttack, Puri and Balangir, selected to avail subsidy under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, are in a dilemma as most of them are yet to get their Aadhaar cards.
Meanwhile, the petroleum companies’ repeated reminders to consumers through SMSes asking them to register their Aadhaar card numbers with them by January 31 next to avail the subsidy on lPG gas cylinders has created the trouble. According to sources, while in Balangir district, 10 lakh Aadhaar cards were prepared out of 13 lakh people, in Khurda, 14 lakh cards prepared for 18 lakh people, in Cuttack 15 lakh cards for 18 lakh and in Puri 11 lakh out of 13 lakh people were prepared. But till date, most of them are yet to get cards.
The DBT scheme was originally supposed to be launched on November 1 in these four districts. “We do not understand what to do. While our dealers are asking us to register our Aadhaar number to avail subsidy gas before January 31, we are yet to get the cards,” said a consumer.