PAHAL hits wall in capital, Jodhpur

JAIPUR / The registration for Pratyaksha Hastaantarit Laabh (PAHAL) — the direct benefits transfer scheme for LPG subsidy — has received good response from the people in the state with about 63.77% LPG consumers signing up for the scheme so far. However, the response has been poor in Jaipur and Jodhpur, where only 56.51% and 54.92% consumers have linked their Aadhar numbers with the LPG connections, respectively. According to oil companies, there are two reasons for the lukewarm response. First, there are several consumers who have been using domestic connections without the same being registered. These consumers have not approached the distributors for availing the scheme as they fear that the cylinders won’t be supplied to them in future, says Gurmeet Singh, executive director of Rajasthan office of Indian Oil Corporation Limited. Second, many consumers do not possess the original documents pertaining to the connections. Likewise, some have the documents of the connections that are registered in the names of their deceased family members. Singh says: "Consumers do not approach the distributors also because they do not know the procedure for regularisation of these connections.” Oil marketing companies have issued guidelines to all distributors to regularise the connections so that consumers can avail the benefits of the PAHAL scheme. Consumers can approach their distributors and submit the required consent letter/affidavits formats available with distributors. They are required to carry the documents related to the connection or the death certificates of the original connection holders. The transfer of the connection to the next kin or legal heir is permitted, subject to the completion of the formalities. Change of names is also permitted. The original consumer will have to give his written consent for transferring the connection in favour of a family member to whom she/he wants to transfer the connection.