The union government once again made it clear that Aadhaar number is not mandatory to avail LPG subsidy and the consumer can receive the subsidy in his bank account under MDBTL scheme
Contrary to the bombardment of advertisement from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the Aadhaar number is not mandatory to avail LPG subsidy. Dharmendra Pradhan, the minister of state for Petroleum and Natural Gas, informed the Lok Sabha that under the modified direct benefits transfer for LPG (MDBTL), consumers joining this scheme will get cylinders, subsidised as well as non- subsidised, at market price and subsidy amount as applicable for each domestic subsidised cylinder is transferred to their bank account.
"If the LPG consumer does not have an Aadhaar number, he can directly receive subsidy in his bank account without the use of Aadhaar number. This option which has now been introduced in the modified scheme ensures that LPG subsidy is not denied to an LPG consumer on account of lack of Aadhaar number," he said.
Last month, the Narendra Modi government re-launched its modified direct benefits transfer for LPG (MDBTL) scheme on pilot basis in 54 districts across the country. The main feature of this modified scheme is LPG consumers will be able to get subsidy directly in their bank accounts from 15th November even if they do not have Aadhaar numbers.
Pradhan said all LPG consumers have a grace period of three months from the date of launch of DBTL in the district, during which all those who have not yet joined the scheme would continue to get subsidised cylinders as per their entitlement.
After the end of grace period, an additional parking period of three months is given to such consumers during which the subsidy entitlement will be parked and will be transferred to consumer's bank account on joining the scheme during this period.
The previous DBTL scheme launched by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government failed due to its linkage with Aadhaar numbers with bank accounts. Most people did not have either Aadhaar number or a bank account. Now with a push for opening bank accounts, the MDBTL has been linked to both, Aadhaar numbers and bank accounts.