Pahal DBTL (LPG Subsidy) Yojana

Pahal DBTL (LPG Subsidy) Yojana

Pahal scheme is a scheme that is related to LPG cooking gas connections, and involves all the registered LPG users or customers. The scheme was initially launched in a trial basis by the Congress Government, when they were in power, in the year 2013. But then the scheme was never completely implemented. Then again the Modi government launched this scheme with certain necessary modification. The scheme was initially called the LPG Subsidy Scheme and was later re-named and launched as Pahal Scheme.

Pahal DBTL (LPG Subsidy) Yojana

S.No Name of the scheme Pahal Scheme
1 Full form Pratyaksh Hanstantarit Scheme (PAHAL)
2 Initial launch 1st June 2013
3 Districts covered during launch 291 districts across the nation
4 Final launch 15th November 2014 (phase 1 included 54 districts), 1st January 2015 (implemented in all other districts)
5 Implemented by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
6 Main objective Provide subsidy to LPG consumers

The main motive of the scheme is to end the black market game in the distribution of LPG cylinders across the nation.

About the scheme

The Direct Benefit transfer of LPG (DBTL) was first launched in the year 2013 but then the scheme did not work and to t was not implemented. The main reason behind the failure of the scheme was that the scheme demanded the need of an Aadhaar card in order to get the LPG subsidy amount. But then this came as an obstacle for many LPG consumers and so the scheme was never implemented. Later in the year 2014 the Modi government launched the scheme with the modification that one would be eligible for the LPG subsidy with or without the Aadhaar card.

The modified scheme was first launched for a trial run in 54 districts of India. Later it was implemented in all the other remaining 622 districts of India. According the recent announcement of government officials, around 14.62 Crore of LGP consumers have joined under the PAHAL scheme and by around 13 crore household LPG consumers are receiving subsidy as cash transfer to their respective bank accounts. Also, the scheme has been marked as Guinness world record as it is the world’s largest cash benefit programme conducted by the government.

Since then this has been an active scheme and people across India, who are LPG consumers, receive LPG subsidy. The subsidy amount is the amount that is the different between the LPG market rates and the subsidized rates at which the customers would get it. Basically if the price of the LPG cylinder is Rs.450 and the market price of it is Rs.650, then the customer would get Rs.200 as subsidy.

Features of the scheme

  • Under this scheme all the LPG consumers are given a subsidy that is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the consumers. One has the option of linking or not linking the Aadhaar card number of his or her with the bank account. Though it is preferred that the bank account is linked to the Aadhaar card number for the direct transfer of subsidy.
  • The amount is offered to the consumer as soon as they make their first booking of a LPG cylinder. The consumers who had joined the scheme within the giving time period would only be eligible for the subsidy offer.
  • The existing LPG consumers were given a period of three months to join the scheme. Those who did not joining the scheme within the given period are not given any subsidy.
  • Under the Pahal scheme two options are given to the consumers for receiving the subsidy amount. The fundamental process that is followed under this scheme to pay off the subsidy is the Cash Transfer Complaint.
  • The first option for receiving the subsidy is by linking the Aadhaar card number. So in this process the Aadhaar card number is linked to your bank account and to the LPG connection. With this reference the amount is transferred to the bank account directly.
  • The people who do not have Aadhaar card could also avail this scheme. In such a case the consumer must give all the relevant details to the LPG distributor, which would be saved to the LPG database. Or else the bank, where the consumer has his or her account, can get all the required details and the 17 digit LPG consumer number. With these details the banks will be able to release the LPG subsidy to the consumers.
  • In a year the LPG users are entitled to 12 subsidized LPG gas cylinders in a financial year.

Benefits of the scheme

  • The Pahal scheme comes as great benefit to the LPG consumers. They do not have to pay the market price of the LPG cylinder. This is surely comes as relieve for many households.
  • Another benefit that the scheme offers is that the subsidy amount is directly transferred to the account of the LPG customer. There is no middle man involved in the process.
  • For the government this scheme is beneficial as it helps in curbing the unauthorized sales of the LPG that takes places that basically leaded to the black market of LPG.
  • And for LPG consumers, it becomes mandatory for them to own savings account in any of the nationalized bank. As the result the banking features would become fluent among the rural people across the nation.

The scheme is a progressive scheme and with the re-launch it has been able to meet all its challenges. The scheme has been implemented well, and has been benefitting a lot of people and also the government.

Conclusion:

As per the experts view, the launch of Pahal scheme is the strong and promising action taken by the current ruling NDA government to control the illegal circulation of LPG cylinders across the nation by providing Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG Subsidy (DBTL). And on analyzing on basis of economical aspect, the money spend for the illegal circulation of LPG cylinders has been restricted and many people prefers to opt out from receiving subsidy amount, resulting government to announce more beneficial schemes for below poverty line families.

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