World’s largest
Re-launched in 54 districts with a simplified mechanism on 15th November the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme for LPG or Pahal would be the world’s largest social benefit drive. The scheme has already surpassed Brazil’s famous Bolsa Familia programme and a similar project in China in terms of numbers of beneficiaries. Some 2.3 crore LPG consumers were added and 18 Cr or 75 per cent, of them brought under its ambit after the relaunch. About Rs 549 Cr subsidy has been transferred. In comparison the Brazilian scheme covers about 12 lakh and the Chinese programme about 18 lakh. This scheme is in line with Prime Minister’s ideology of government for poor and the implementation of direct transfer of benefit is in line with the same ideology. The other inclusion of the scheme would be the ‘DBTL Guardian’, where the Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has asked including Petroleum Secretary and oil firm executives to adopt one district each. Pradhan himself has adopted Palwal in Haryana for which Indian Oil Chairman will be Delhi guardian. The success of DBTL scheme would be part of annual performance appraisal which is why the accountability factor has become prime and direct official involvement . The primary aim of this Direct Benefit Transfer programme is to bring transparency and terminate pilferage from distribution of funds sponsored by Government of India. In DBTL, benefit or subsidy will be directly transferred to citizens living below poverty line. No subsidy will be given to those who don’t require it. The direct benefit LPG consumers who have Aadhaar Card its number must be provided to their LPG distributors using the prescribed Form 2 and for bank using of Form 1 as soon as the policy is introduced in other areas. The consumers will have the right to complain and get their subsidy transferred on time as one can use helpline and portals, to track the entire process-from booking a cylinder to getting subsidy approved and transferred. The one step with which the government is transferring the LPG subsidy to the bank account of customer is not only to create transparency but would also help in weeding out bogus customers and hoarding of LPG cylinders for black marketing thus streamlining the availability of the fuel.