UIDAI, oil ministry sign pact to help end pilferage

The ministry of petroleum and natural gas on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding with the unique identification authority of India (UIDAI) to cooperate in the UIDAI project of issuing unique ID numbers (Aadhaar numbers) to citizens in order to help oil companies check pilferage of subsidised kerosene and cooking gas (LPG).

Under the MoU, oil marketing companies Indian Oil Corp Ltd, Bharat Petroleum Co Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Co Ltd will act as registrars for the UIDAI on behalf of the oil ministry for implementation of the project.

The 12-digit unique number that the UIDAI will generate will be combined with a smart card project of the ministry for distribution of PDS (public distribution scheme) kerosene and domestic LPG through biometric identification of beneficiaries.

Nandan Nilekani, former information technology CEO and now UIDAI chairman, said Rs50 would be given to the oil companies for every enrolment made by them. There are more than 11.5 crore LPG customers in the country, and it is envisioned that by the year 2015, there would be 16 crore LPG customers.

''With focus on BPL families and village communities, this partnership will help in 'de-duplication' and authentication,'' he added.

According to a senior ministry official, the de-duplication process and the online authentication that the UIDAI offered would enhance the efficiency of the oil companies in delivering services to the increasing customer base.

''The biometric smart card-based distribution of SKO (superior kerosene oil) under the PDS and the LPG pilot project will be executed in cooperation with the Andhra Pradesh government.