About 70, 000 out of 18 lakh customers who have procured cooking gas connection from Indane, HP and Bharat Gas in Uttarakhand have given up their lPG subsidy so far. Some days ago, the Ministry of Petroleum, Government of India had again asked the financially sound lPG consumers to voluntarily give up their lPG subsidy.
IOC Dehradun area manager VK Sundriyal said that the ministry had directed the officials to motivate economically well off customers with an annual income of `10 lakh or more to voluntarily give up their subsidy. He said, “No one is bound to do this but it would be a good step facilitating considerable help to the government of India towards public welfare. Giving up subsidised lPG will also help cut the government’s subsidy bill,” he added.
IOC deputy manager (lPG Uttarakhand) Dhirendra Kumar said that those interested can submit a self-declaration form stating annual income with photocopy of PAN card to their gas agency with such forms also being made available on the company’s website.
The All India lPG Federation Uttarakhand circle president and Valley gas agency owner Chamanlal said that agency has not received any self declaration forms from the company. Following the direction of IOC officials, all the customers have been directed to submit self- declaration form after downloading it from company website along with photocopy of PAN card. The agency has received 22 self declaration forms from the customers who were not interested in giving up lPG subsidy. He said that not a single person who is well off has submitted such a form to his agency so far. He reiterated that all customers will have to submit such forms whether they receive lPG subsidy or gave it up.
Many people are not sure about the reason for opting out of subsidy. When asked about it, Salawala area resident lPG customer Rohan, standing outside the agency said, “I am well off and working in the private sector. I don’t see why I should give up the subsidy which I believe is my right,” he added.
Defence Colony resident Urmila Rawat said that her family’s annual income is above Rs 10 lakh and that she had given up the lPG subsidy. “It is better to respond to the government’s appeal now by giving up the lPG subsidy because sooner or later the government may have to enforce the same. Many customers who are willing to give up their lPG subsidy have not be able to do so yet due to some reason”, she added.