JOIN USWith several complaints from consumers about not being alloted a Aadhaar number, the Union Ministry of Petroleum on Thursday extended the deadline to link Aadhaar cards to LPG connections for consumers to April 15.
Though the Ministry had earlier fixed March 15 to launch a pilot project on direct cash transfer in LPG in some districts in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, it was decided to extend the deadline following complaints from consumers that the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) had failed to provide Aadhaar cards to large number of consumers.
The government will wait until all consumers get their Aadhaar number in all designated districts before launching the pilot project, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M Veerappa Moily told Deccan Herald.
Requesting the public not to panic, he said subsidised LPG cylinders will not be denied to any deserving consumer for not having a Aadhaar number. Those having a Aadhaar number can submit the same to the distributors and those awaiting the number can approach concerned authorities, he said.
Admitting that there are several glitches in enrolment and delivery of Aadhaar cards, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Planning Rajeev Shukla informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that the government has initiated various measures, including launch of e-Aadhaar portal and SMSes for communicating the Aadhaar number to address these issues.
Shukla said, as on March 8, a total of 29.05 crore Aadhaar numbers have been generated, out of which 24.48 crore Aadhaar letters have been dispatched.
He said various measures have been initiated for proper monitoring and issuance. “The Department of Posts is monitoring the delivery of Aadhaar letters and has issued instructions to all circles for their smooth and timely delivery,” he said.
UIDAI has also signed a memorandum of understanding with CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd for download and printing of Aadhaar letter by residents through Common Services Centres set up by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, the minister added.