Three districts in Andhra Pradesh — Ranga Reddy, East Godavari and Anantapur — have been selected for the implementation of ‘Aadhaar card-based payments’ for various government schemes within six months, as per which the subsidy amount will be directly credited to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
Officials in the Civil Supplies Department informed that under the pilot project, subsidies pertaining to LPG, kerosene, etc., besides scholarships for students, will be directly credited to bank accounts.
Orders were issued to the officials of the Civil Supplies Department in these districts to ensure that the people enrolled for their Aadhaar cards. Banks were asked to open accounts for them.
LPG consumers in these districts purchase a gas cylinder at a market price of Rs 680 against the subsidised price of Rs 410. The Centre will later credit the subsidy amount of Rs 270 directly into the accounts of consumers.
Similarly, the payments pertaining to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, and old age, widow and disability pensions, will also be directly credited into the beneficiaries’ accounts.
The officials hope to contain misuse of subsidy schemes by linking Aadhaar card with payments, at the same time, checking duplication of beneficiaries.