<p>Though a circular was issued in the month of March to launch Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of kerosene subsidies in Mysore district, lukewarm response from BPL card-holders to register for the scheme has delayed its implementation. Mysore was one among three districts in the State, where DBT of kerosene was to be launched on a trial basis.<br /><br /></p>.<p>BPL card-holders, and APL card-holders without a LPG connection, who are eligible for kerosene subsidies, were to link their ration card numbers with Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers or Aadhaar card numbers, along with their bank account details. While Aadhaar number is not mandatory, EPIC number is mandatory for the scheme. <br /><br />The department has collected EPIC numbers of the district from the Election Commission to facilitate the scheme. <br /><br />Linking<br /><br />However, according to the Deputy Director of the department of Food and Civil Supplies, K Rameshwarappa, the progress of linking the related documents has been slow.<br /><br />As of June, 3,84,692 BPL card-holders, and 61,611 APL card-holders were eligible for DBT of kerosene subsidies. However, the number of card-holders who have registered themselves using an SMS procedure were only 8,535 (as of June 9), which is less than three per cent of the eligible card-holders. While 6,525 of these registrations were made in Nanjangud taluk, 1,703 were done in Mysore taluk. Number of registrations in H D Kote, Hunsur, K R Nagar, Periyapatna and T Narsipur taluks are 59, 45, 60, 64, and 79, respectively.<br /><br />Skepticism<br /><br />According to sources in the department, people have been skeptical of DBT schemes, following the withdrawal of DBT of LPG subsidies in the district. “Since they fear that this scheme too will be scrapped in a short span, they are skeptical to enrol for it,” the source said.<br /><br />D Veerabadraiah, Assistant Director of the department said that though there were plans to launch DBT of kersone subsidies in June, it was affected by the delay in registrations. The last date for eligible card-holders to submit their details is June 30, he said, and added that it might be extended further, depending on the response of the people.<br /><br />On a question on how people in rural areas could enrol using the elaborate SMS procedure, he said that the department was creating awareness in various parts of the district by the help of banners and flexes.<br /><br />SMS procedure<br /><br />Sources also attributed the lukewarm response to the complications in SMS registration procedure. Under the SMS procedure, text message - RCMOB, followed by a space, and ration card number should be sent from the mobile phone of the BPL card holder to 9212357123. <br /><br />Later, the beneficiary should type RCEPIC, followed by a space and EPIC card number of a family member to the same number. The beneficiary should send EPIC numbers of other family members individually to the same number. Later, he/she should type RCUID and send Aadhaar card numbers (optional) of his family individually.<br /><br />Such complicated process could have deterred the beneficiaries in rural areas from registration, sources added.<br /></p>
<p>Though a circular was issued in the month of March to launch Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of kerosene subsidies in Mysore district, lukewarm response from BPL card-holders to register for the scheme has delayed its implementation. Mysore was one among three districts in the State, where DBT of kerosene was to be launched on a trial basis.<br /><br /></p>.<p>BPL card-holders, and APL card-holders without a LPG connection, who are eligible for kerosene subsidies, were to link their ration card numbers with Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers or Aadhaar card numbers, along with their bank account details. While Aadhaar number is not mandatory, EPIC number is mandatory for the scheme. <br /><br />The department has collected EPIC numbers of the district from the Election Commission to facilitate the scheme. <br /><br />Linking<br /><br />However, according to the Deputy Director of the department of Food and Civil Supplies, K Rameshwarappa, the progress of linking the related documents has been slow.<br /><br />As of June, 3,84,692 BPL card-holders, and 61,611 APL card-holders were eligible for DBT of kerosene subsidies. However, the number of card-holders who have registered themselves using an SMS procedure were only 8,535 (as of June 9), which is less than three per cent of the eligible card-holders. While 6,525 of these registrations were made in Nanjangud taluk, 1,703 were done in Mysore taluk. Number of registrations in H D Kote, Hunsur, K R Nagar, Periyapatna and T Narsipur taluks are 59, 45, 60, 64, and 79, respectively.<br /><br />Skepticism<br /><br />According to sources in the department, people have been skeptical of DBT schemes, following the withdrawal of DBT of LPG subsidies in the district. “Since they fear that this scheme too will be scrapped in a short span, they are skeptical to enrol for it,” the source said.<br /><br />D Veerabadraiah, Assistant Director of the department said that though there were plans to launch DBT of kersone subsidies in June, it was affected by the delay in registrations. The last date for eligible card-holders to submit their details is June 30, he said, and added that it might be extended further, depending on the response of the people.<br /><br />On a question on how people in rural areas could enrol using the elaborate SMS procedure, he said that the department was creating awareness in various parts of the district by the help of banners and flexes.<br /><br />SMS procedure<br /><br />Sources also attributed the lukewarm response to the complications in SMS registration procedure. Under the SMS procedure, text message - RCMOB, followed by a space, and ration card number should be sent from the mobile phone of the BPL card holder to 9212357123. <br /><br />Later, the beneficiary should type RCEPIC, followed by a space and EPIC card number of a family member to the same number. The beneficiary should send EPIC numbers of other family members individually to the same number. Later, he/she should type RCUID and send Aadhaar card numbers (optional) of his family individually.<br /><br />Such complicated process could have deterred the beneficiaries in rural areas from registration, sources added.<br /></p>
