With Chief Minister Raghubar Das relinquishing use of subsidised lPG cylinder at home, the debate over whether people who can afford cooking gas at non-subsidised rates should avail subsidy or not has once again come under spotlight instigating soul-searching on the part of those who can afford especially the elected representatives in Jharkhand.
The CM’s austerity gesture is most likely to encourage some to join him in pushing forward the ideology propounded by the BJP-led Government at the Centre. Das’ decision reportedly came during his meeting with Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.
“It is good thing that who can afford do not avail subsidy. I have been using it earlier but I can afford a non-subsidised cylinder after becoming people’s representative. I will take inspirations from our CM and wish that what subsidy I was getting a person in need gets it,” said Gumla MlA, Shivshankar Oraon.
In order to make the subsidy reach the person in need, the Central Government introduced the optional scheme for people who can afford extra bucks for buying cooking gas and be part of the pan-India movement for inspiring people belonging to higher social strata.
lPG consumers are currently permitted to avail 12, 14.2-kg cylinders in a year at subsidised rates and requirements above that has to be procured at market price. Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have given an option to existing lPG consumers to convert their existing domestic lPG connection into a non-subsidised domestic connection by submitting a written request to the distributor or electronically via www.MylPG.in.
Nonetheless, the ‘scroll of honor’—a list of those who have forfeited subsidy do not feature even a single people’s representative from Jharkhand and is dominated by people of non-political class.
Even as the saffron party MlAs are considering to step into the shoes of the CM, people’s representatives from other parties have hailed the initiative but termed the decision as a small step towards a major goal of making the money reach the right person. Notwithstanding Das’ decision to shun the concession on lPG prices, opposition has asked him to take more initiatives from his end. Still, the move has made other party MlAs to consider emulating the CM.
“The decision is good in principle and everyone should follow this. But there are greater issues in the public delivery system such as loopholes which also needs the CM’s attention. If he has taken this decision with the right intentions then he must take other people friendly initiatives also,” said Bermo MlA, Yogendra Prasad.