No more LPG subsidies for the Aadhaar-less

M R Rajashekar, a resident of Sharadavdevi Nagar was pacing around at the MysoreOne center near Jayanagar. He has now visited the center quite a few times since July, enquiring why he has not yet been issued an Aadhaar card.

He along with his wife and daughter had enrolled for Aadhaar card at the center on July 5. While his wife and daughter have been issued the card, Rajashekar does not understand why it has not been issued to him. “LPG connection is in my name. Since, seeding of LPG customer numbers and bank account had to be compulsorily completed by the end of September, its not clear whether I would receive subsidies,” he said.

While, computer operators at MysoreOne center said, the delay might be due to a technical glitch, the problem will probably cost Rajashekar his subsidies.

He is among more than 50,000 LPG customers in the city, whose LPG customer numbers are yet to be seeded with their bank accounts and mapped by the National Payment Council of India.

Supreme Court order

The Supreme Court, hearing a petition, ruled, in an interim order, that a citizen cannot be denied benefits such as subsidies for not possessing the Aadhaar card. But, in Mysore, it appears that oil companies have ignored the decision.

According to representatives of oil companies and LPG distributors, subsidies will be provided only under Aadhaar based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Pramod, a LPG distributor of Vijayanagar said, the billing software of oil companies in Mysore has been updated such that the companies can only bill for the full cost of a LPG cylinder. The cost of a cylinder was Rs 1,012 on Tuesday. “We have not received any instructions from companies. Any person without an Aadhaar card is being charged the full amount,” he said.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, sales officer of an oil company said, though there is an interim order by the Supreme Court, Minister for Petroleum Veerappa Moily had said that Aadhaar based DBT will continue. “Since no instructions have been received from the Petroleum Ministry, we are hopeful that DBT will continue,” he said.

On whether the companies would violate the Supreme Court order, he said that they act to the notifications by their superiors, who have not yet sent any instructions on providing subsidies for individuals without an Aadhaar card.

However, officials at the Lead Bank and UIDAI said that they too were awaiting a decision by the Petroleum ministry.

Contempt of court

Retd Maj Gen S G Vombatkere of Mysore Grahaka Parishat said the decision by UIDAI and oil companies to continue with the DBT, despite Supreme Court ruling was contempt of court. He said that he would appeal to the district administration to take cognisance of the court order and provide subsidy benefits to individuals without an Aadhaar card.