Chennai:
Confusion is prevailing over whether the Aadhaar Card is mandatory to avail Liquefied and Petroleum Gas subsidies or not?
On one side, there is a directive from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, that LPG consumers should provide Aadhaar details before September 30 for subsidy to be credited, on the other hand Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah naidu announced in Parliament that Aadhaar card is not mandatory for getting Central benefits and they are following the Supreme court ruling.
Interestingly, nearly 87.64 per cent of population in the state has been screened for Aadhaar card. However, in Chennai, it is only 79 per cent, as per Census data. This means 6.32 crore people in the state have Aadhaar cards while 36.65 lakh people in Chennai have access to Aadhaar cards. However, many who have been screened for Aadhaar cards say they have not got it yet.
V Sridharan, who stays in Panruti Kandigai, says that he was getting Indane cooking gas from an agency at Sriperumbudur. “Normally I get subsidy within a few days.but this month I have not received subsidy though gas was delivered on July 14. On enquiry, they told me that if Aadhar card is not registered, the subsidy will be pending. I have enrolled for Aadhar but have not received it.
Is it the policy of authorities to stop subsidy in the absence of Aadhar card?
“This is unfair to many who have not received it. Until all have got the cards, such decision should not be taken,” he says.
But officials in Census department say the issue is that people in a city like Chennai migrate continuously. They live in rented apartments as such many don’t get. Besides there is also a issue over it being delivered through ordinary post.
But consumers like Swetha argue that it is government’s responsibility to ensure everyone gets his Aadhaar card as it is a social welfare scheme. If poor are left out, then what is the use of providing subsidies. The census department has the address of the person who was screened for Aadhaar. The goernment has to ensure he has his Aadhaar card,” she argues.
Officials say due to linking of Aadhaar card with Direct Benefit Transfer, the misuse of people having more than two to three gas connections has reduced. Meanwhile, the census department has also covered 6.88 crore people for biometrics which is essential for smart cards to be prepared by state government by linking it with Aadhaar cards.
“On one hand, the government says it is not mandatory but on the other hand, it is slyly forcing people to go in for Aadhar cards to enjoy welfare schemes,” says Subbu, whose friend has been forced to apply for Aadhaar card to avail LPG subsidies.
Earlier, LPG Subsidy was provided by directly linking bank account numbers to gas agencies. Now there is a need for such customers to submit their Aadhar card photocopy to the bank as well as the gas agency. The consumers are currently getting 12 cylinders at a subsidized rate in a year.
Confusion is prevailing over whether the Aadhaar Card is mandatory to avail Liquefied and Petroleum Gas subsidies or not?
On one side, there is a directive from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, that LPG consumers should provide Aadhaar details before September 30 for subsidy to be credited, on the other hand Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah naidu announced in Parliament that Aadhaar card is not mandatory for getting Central benefits and they are following the Supreme court ruling.
Interestingly, nearly 87.64 per cent of population in the state has been screened for Aadhaar card. However, in Chennai, it is only 79 per cent, as per Census data. This means 6.32 crore people in the state have Aadhaar cards while 36.65 lakh people in Chennai have access to Aadhaar cards. However, many who have been screened for Aadhaar cards say they have not got it yet.
V Sridharan, who stays in Panruti Kandigai, says that he was getting Indane cooking gas from an agency at Sriperumbudur. “Normally I get subsidy within a few days.but this month I have not received subsidy though gas was delivered on July 14. On enquiry, they told me that if Aadhar card is not registered, the subsidy will be pending. I have enrolled for Aadhar but have not received it.
Is it the policy of authorities to stop subsidy in the absence of Aadhar card?
“This is unfair to many who have not received it. Until all have got the cards, such decision should not be taken,” he says.
But officials in Census department say the issue is that people in a city like Chennai migrate continuously. They live in rented apartments as such many don’t get. Besides there is also a issue over it being delivered through ordinary post.
But consumers like Swetha argue that it is government’s responsibility to ensure everyone gets his Aadhaar card as it is a social welfare scheme. If poor are left out, then what is the use of providing subsidies. The census department has the address of the person who was screened for Aadhaar. The goernment has to ensure he has his Aadhaar card,” she argues.
Officials say due to linking of Aadhaar card with Direct Benefit Transfer, the misuse of people having more than two to three gas connections has reduced. Meanwhile, the census department has also covered 6.88 crore people for biometrics which is essential for smart cards to be prepared by state government by linking it with Aadhaar cards.
“On one hand, the government says it is not mandatory but on the other hand, it is slyly forcing people to go in for Aadhar cards to enjoy welfare schemes,” says Subbu, whose friend has been forced to apply for Aadhaar card to avail LPG subsidies.
Earlier, LPG Subsidy was provided by directly linking bank account numbers to gas agencies. Now there is a need for such customers to submit their Aadhar card photocopy to the bank as well as the gas agency. The consumers are currently getting 12 cylinders at a subsidized rate in a year.
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