launched in the line of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for making the fumeless fuel accessible to poor families, the scheme is picking up pace in Jharkhand. Though it had a poor beginning, however, it is learnt that now over 90,000 applications for lPG connection to BPl families have been generated and handed over to the three oil marketing companies.
Informing about the latest figure after a review on Thursday, Director of Department of Food and Civil Supplies Yugal Kishore Chaubey said, “We have prepared the list of nearly one lakh beneficiaries from BPl families who are eligible for gas connection free of cost. Names of over 90,000 of them have been forwarded to the oil marketing companies for issuing connection. The companies have been told to apprise the Department accordingly so that their payment can be released.”
Sources in the Department said that most number of the applications have been generated from the districts like Ranchi, Chaibasa, Hazaribagh, Palamu, Bokaro, Khunti and latehar and forwarded for execution to the companies. However, actual rate of realisation of the applications so far has not been too encouraging.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Saryu Roy said, “As per the data of February 15, we have been able to provide free lPG connections to 6,133 BPl families. But the one lakh target was not for one year. That much of connections were to be given by the State and it was our commitment. Regardless of that we are doing our best to generate as much applications for gas connections as possible.” Even latest data in this regard suggest that not more than 12,000 connections have actually been given to the poor across the State.
The Cabinet in September last year had decided to provide one security-free cylinder to a BPl family. Nevertheless no concession is available on the second bottle, oven, regulator and hosepipe. Privately officials of the Department blame ‘still costlier’ cooking fuel for the cold response coming. “In rural areas they have firewood, coal and even cow dung which are easily available and much cheaper in comparison to lPG. lesser demand for such connection is one of the reasons besides, cumbersome process to get that, especially for the downtrodden families,” said an official.
On the other, Secretary of the Department expressed confidence that the scheme is picking up in pace. “I cannot recall the exact numbers but substantial applications for lPG connections from BPl families have been generated so far and are under different stages of verification. We would again review the scheme so that we can meet the target fast,” said Vinay Kumar Choubey.
As per the system in place, BPl persons have to approach local administration through BDO and DC and after verifying their claims the applications are forwarded to any of the three oil companies in operation in the area.
At the same time, the Minister also hinted that another form of subsidised fuel, i.e. kerosene, would be withdrawn gradually from the families getting lPG coverage under the scheme. “It has to be done. After all the subsidised kerosene is given for cooking and lighting purposes and when we are providing gas to the families and power connection is there in the village, there is no need of kerosene,” said Roy adding that widespread leakages prevailing would also be fixed through DBT; rolled out in six districts of the State thus far and set to be expanded further.