Govt extends Aadhaar deadline for free LPG till end-September

The government has extended the deadline for applying for Aadhaar identification by poor women wanting to avail of free cooking gas (LPG) connection till September-end.

The government had, in March this year, mandated that anyone wishing to avail of free cooking gas (LPG) connections must apply for the unique 12-digit biometric identification number Aadhaar by 31 May.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, households below poverty line (BPL) are entitled to free LPG connection provided they have Aadhaar identification.

"A beneficiary desirous of availing the benefits under the Scheme (PMUY), who does not possess the Aadhaar number or has not yet enrolled for Aadhar shall have to apply for Aadhaar enrolment by 31st May, 2017, provided she is entitled to obtain Aadhaar," the notification issued on 6 March read.

The ministry of petroleum and natural gas has now issued a gazette notification extending that deadline to 30 September 30.

In its latest notification, the ministry said: "The figures, letters and word '31st May, 2017', the figures, letters and word '30th September, 2017' shall be substituted."

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, launched last year, had proposed issue of free LPG connections to 50 million poor households, with a view to providing clean cooking fuel for poor women. The government claims to have provided 26 million free LPG connections so far.

Once enrolled for Aadhaar, the beneficiary can apply for free LPG connection by providing the enrolment ID slip or a copy of such a request.

Such application will have to be accompanied by one of the government identification documents like bank passbook with photograph, election voter ID, ration card, permanent account number (PAN), passport, driving licence, kisan photo passbook or a certificate of identity having a photo issued by a gazetted officer on an official letterhead, it said.

The ministry has asked state-owned fuel retailing firms to facilitate enrolment of beneficiaries for biometric identification number, Aadhaar.

The government currently provided 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg each at subsidised rates per household in a year. Those who need more than 12 cylinders a year will have to buy the fuel at market rates.