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Grahak Dakshata Kalyan Foundation is our patient-serving organization which creates public awareness for customer interest, respect, equality and safety. At GDKF, we are dedicated to safeguarding the rights of consumers without any discrimination based on caste, religion, or political interests. Our mission is to protect consumer rights, promote social welfare, and ensure the overall well-being of consumers. We invite you to join us on this transformative journey as we work together to build a progressive society.
"Let us all come together to save domestic cylinders, use domestic cylinders at home only."
Nitin Solanke national president of Grahak dakshata Kalyan Foundation gave detailed information on this topic.
Domestic LPG cylinders are procured and maintained by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). The cylinders are loaned to the customers against Security Deposit paid by them. Based on the projected demand and optimization of operations, the entire supply chain and inventory of cylinders is managed by OMCs with an objective of bringing in efficiency in LPG distribution system. Several steps have been taken by OMCs to prevent pilferage/supply of underweight cylinders to LPG consumers, which inter-alia include, random weight checking of filled cylinders at bottling plant, sealing of cylinders with Tamper Evident Seal, Statistical Quality Control on 10 % cylinders received from bottling plant, pre-delivery checks of cylinders, carrying portable weighing scales by delivery persons, random checks by OMC officials at go-down/delivery points/en-route, organizing public awareness campaigns etc.
Barcodes, QR codes and RFID tags are amongst the key available technologies used for product identification, inventory management, sales tracking, package tracking, sorting and quality control applications in supply chain management. In case of LPG industry, the OMCs have taken up the pilot studies of QR code tagging to the LPG cylinders for identification/tracking/tracing of the LPG cylinders. OMCs continuously strive to adopt the latest technology whether in the form of software implementation / upgradation or automation of processes. In case of cylinder management, the QR code-based “Track & Trace” has been identified as one of the solutions. In order to obtain “Proof of Concept” for the QR code based system, OMCs have held consultations with various premier technical institutes, testing agencies and have obtained opinion of subject matter experts on the aspect of scanning of QR code through mobile handsets and QR code scanners.
A pilot study for QR code tagging of cylinders has been undertaken by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) at Madanpur Khadar Bottling Plant, Delhi for filling of QR coded LPG cylinders and dispatch to two distributors of Delhi Market. This initiative has been taken up with an objective to resolve issues of pilferage, tracking and tracing and better inventory management of gas cylinders. IOCL has dispatched 1,95,153 QR tagged 14.2 Kg LPG cylinders to these two distributors till 07.12.2023.
For transparent and effective disbursal of subsidy, Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL) has been implemented since January 2015. Under DBTL, LPG cylinders are sold at non-subsidised price and the applicable subsidy to LPG consumers is transferred directly into the bank account of the consumers. The subsidy is transferred either through Aadhaar Transfer Compliant (ATC) or Bank Transfer Compliant (BTC) mode. From August 2021, subsidy payments for DBTL are being administered through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS). PFMS facilitates sound Public Financial Management System for Government of India by establishing an efficient fund flow system as well as a payment cum accounting network. PFMS provides real time, reliable and meaningful management information system and an effective decision support system, as part of the Digital India initiative of Government of India.
DBTL has helped in identifying ‘ghost’ accounts, multiple accounts and inactive accounts. This has helped in curbing diversion of subsidised LPG for commercial purposes. More than 4 crore domestic LPG connections have been blocked due to inactive or duplicate connections. Also, more than 1.1 crore LPG consumers have given up their subsidy under “GiveItUp” campaign across the country. This information was given by the THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS SHRI RAMESWAR TELI, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
