Aadhar card to be mandatory for getting LPG subsidy after November
05 Oct 2016
The government has made Aadhaar mandatory for availing cooking gas (LPG) subsidies but has given two months' time for those not having an Aadhar number to secure the unique identification number.
Consumers have been given time till 30 November 2016 to make application for enrolment for the unique identification number.
Oil marketing companies have been asked to facilitate enrolments. Till such time Aadhaar is assigned, LPG subsidy would be transferred on the basis of Aadhaar enrolment ID slip and bank photo passbook or voter ID card or ration card or kisan photo passbook or passport or driver licence along with copy of request for Aadhaar enrolment.
Under the LPG subsidy scheme, domestic consumers are eligible for 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rates per household in a year.
The subsidy on every cylinder is transferred directly into bank accounts of individuals in advance to help the consumer buy cooking fuel at market rate.
"Individual desirous of availing LPG subsidies are hereby required to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar or undergo Aadhaar authentication," an oil ministry order said.
Such consumers will also have to furnish an undertaking in a set format that the individual is not availing LPG subsidy under any other consumer number of any oil marketing company, the order said.
"This notification shall take effect immediately in all states except Assam, Meghalaya and Jammu & Kashmir," the order said.
The ministry said use of Aadhaar as identifier for delivery of services / benefits / subsidies simplifies the government delivery processes, bring in transparency and efficiency, and enables beneficiaries to get their entitlements directly to them.
"Aadhaar obviates the need for producing multiple documents to prove one's identity," it said, adding the provisions of the Aadhaar Act and Regulations under the Act came into effect from September 14, 2016.
As LPG subsidy is an expenditure incurred from Consolidated Fund of India, the ministry said it is notifying use of Aadhaar as mandatory requirement for availing of the benefit.
