GUWAHATI, Nov 23 � The Centre will launch the Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL) in the entire country with effect from January 1, 2015.
�The modified (DBTL) scheme was launched in 54 districts of the country on November 15, 2014, in the first phase and it will be launched in the rest of the country on January 1, 2015,� said a press release issued by the India Oil Corporation Ltd.
It said that the DBTL scheme was first launched in June 1, 2013 and finally covered 291 districts.
�It required the consumer to mandatorily have an Aadhaar number for availing LPG subsidy. The government has comprehensively reviewed the scheme and after examining the difficulties faced by the consumer substantively modified the scheme prior to launch,� the release said.
It added that consumers who had joined the scheme earlier and had received cash subsidy in their bank accounts do not need to do anything.
�To confirm this, they should check their CTC (cash transfer complaint) status on www.MyLPG.in,� the statement said.
Some changes have been brought in the modified scheme to enhance consumer convenience.
�Consumers who affirm that they do not have Aadhaar number can receive cash directly in their bank account without producing Aadhaar. However, as and when they get Aadhaar they may shift to Aadhaar based cash transfer,� it said.
It added, �Consumers who are not CTC will get a three- month grace period during which they will receive the cylinders at subsidized rate. After the grace period, they will get an additional period of three month as parking period. During the parking period they will have to buy cylinders at the market rate. If the consumer joins the scheme within the parking period, the subsidy as per entitlements and consumption during parking period will be transferred to his bank account.�
The statement said, �A permanent advance is paid in the bank account of consumers as soon as they make the first booking for a cylinder after joining the scheme, prior to the delivery. This advance ensures that LPG consumers have extra cash to pay for the first LPG cylinder at market price. The permanent advance shall be notified for the consumers now joining the scheme separately.�
It said that DBTL is designed to ensure that the benefit meant for the genuine domestic customer reaches them directly and is not diverted.
�DBTL also ensures that public money is saved. All LPG customers are requested to immediately join the scheme as above... As part of the improvements to the scheme, consumers will now receive SMS at every stage of enrollment in the scheme. To avail of this feature all LPG consumers are requested to register their mobile number with their distributor if they have already not done so. They are also advised to receive cylinders only with cash memos to be assured of their cash transfer,� the statement added.
It said that LPG customers who do not wish to avail the LPG subsidy can choose to opt out of subsidy.
�Around 9,000 citizens have already voluntarily given up the LPG subsidy thereby freeing up crores of fund for their less privileged brethren,� it said.
Regarding the process for joining the modified DBTL scheme, it said that LPG consumers who have Aadhaar number must provide their Aadhaar number to LPG distributor using Form 2 and to Bank using Form 1.
If the LPG customer does not have Aadhaar number, he or she can give details to LPG distributor in Form 4 or give 17-digit LPG ID to the Bank using Form 3.
The statement said that LPG consumers who join the scheme will get a one-time permanent advance �as notified, as soon as they book a cylinder after joining the scheme... All consumers who join the scheme till January 1, 2015, will start getting LPG cylinders at market price and cash in their bank accounts.�
For three months, between January 1 and March 31, 2015, any LPG consumer who does not join the scheme will continue to get the cylinder at subsidized price as they are getting it currently.
�Between April 1 and June 30, 2015,(three months), those LPG consumers who still do not join the scheme will start getting the cylinder at market price and the cash admissible will be parked with the Oil Marketing Companies. If they join the scheme within this three month period, the parked cash would be sent to their bank account, else it will lapse,� it said.
It added, �From July 1, 2015, consumers who have still not joined the scheme will get the cylinder at market price, and cash subsidy will not be admissible. Any consumer can join the scheme after June 30, 2015, and he/she will get permanent advance and cash subsidy with prospective affect as per entitlement,� the statement added.
