Confused LPG consumers in Hyderabad are flocking to gas agencies after hearing rumors that the state government is implementing a Rs 500 gas cylinder scheme. Many consumers, particularly men, are assuming that the Mahalakshmi scheme only applies to women and are requesting to transfer their registration into their wives’ names. The confusion has been caused by the Centre’s directions on updating e-KYC and the implementation of free travel for women in RTC buses by the state government.
The turnout of customers at gas agency offices has become overwhelming. The guidelines on updating e-KYC and the recent state election results have added to the confusion. Gas agency officials are struggling to make consumers understand that the e-KYC update is not related to the implementation of the Mahalakshmi scheme. Men, along with their wives, are requesting to transfer their names to avail the scheme, which is yet to start.
The Union Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has directed Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to undertake biometric Aadhaar authentication for PMUY (PM Ujjwala Yojana) and PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) beneficiaries. This is to ensure that Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL) schemes reach the intended beneficiaries. The Ministry has instructed OMCs to complete this process in a timely manner.
Gas agencies have accelerated the e-KYC process after receiving the directions earlier this month. HPCL has directed its distributors to prioritize the e-KYC for existing LPG customers, leading to a rush of consumers. The servers of HPCL were down due to the high demand.
Bharat Gas agencies in Humayun Nagar also experienced a similar situation with many women gathering in large numbers to become beneficiaries of the Rs 500 scheme. However, they were disappointed to learn that the scheme had not been implemented yet.
Some elderly consumers faced difficulties in generating KYC due to changes in their fingerprints over the years. They expressed frustration at having to go through the process again in January.
RTI activists have raised concerns about fraudsters duping people in the name of the Mahalakshmi scheme. They have asked for confirmation of any orders or guidelines issued for the scheme.
