In view of a hue and cry among the consumer’s and the Supreme Court’s order, the State Government has asked the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to defer the launching of the Direct Benefit Transfer for lPG (DBTl) in the seven selected districts in Odisha by at least three months. An estimated 50 per cent of the population in the districts is yet to be covered under the Aadhaar.
In a fresh letter to Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary Vivek Rae, Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra said if the implementation of the DBTl in Odisha was not deferred by three months, a large number of lPG consumers would be deprived of their due subsidy for no fault of theirs. Besides, the issue may trigger law and order situation in the State, he warned.
He sought the Ministry to extend the date of implementation up to March 31 in case of the four districts in the first phase and up to June 30 in respect of three districts in the second phase.
The Centre is hell-bent on launching of the DBTl in seven districts in two phases. While it was decided to implement the scheme in Cuttack, Bolangir, Khurdha and Puri in the first phase from November 1, 2013 with a three month’s time for Aadhaar linkage. Baleswar, Bhadrakh and Sundergarh were to be covered in the second phase from Jan 1 with the same grace period.
In his letter, Mohapatra pointed out that the launching of the DBTl has triggered a hue and cry among the lPG consumers since a large number is yet to receive Aadhaar number owing to a variety of reasons. “Unless detailed instructions on revised launching date of the DBTl scheme in Odisha are given, the possibility of confrontations between the lPG consumers and distributors resulting in law and order situation will not be ruled out,” the Chief Secretary cautioned.
In case of launching of the scheme, he said that alternative provisions may have to be made for transfer of benefit of lPG consumers who are yet to get Aadhaar linkage.
Besides, the Chief Secretary cited the Supreme Court’s interim order on September 23 last pointed out that “no person should suffer for not getting the Aadhaar card.” As per the order, the citizens can not be denied subsidy on lPG for not having the Aadhaar numbers, he said.
He said the UIDAI generating the Aadhaar numbers has been very slow, with around 55 to 60 per cent of the targeted population in four district having got them in the first phase, and around 35 to 45 per cent having got it in the second phase districts so far.
The State Government had initiated several steps like permanent enrolment centers in blocks and select lPG distribution points for improving the enrolment. However, it would take some time for all the consumers to enrol and get their Aadhaar numbers, Mohapatra said, seeking revision of the launching dates.