New Delhi : More than 64 percent of 15.3 crore LPG consumers in the country have joined the ambitious PAHAL scheme to receive cash subsidy in their bank accounts so they can buy the cooking gas at market price.

"Over 9.35 crore LPG consumers have joined the scheme so far," Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters here.

Consumers joining the scheme, which was launched all over the country from January 1, has swelled from 24 per cent to 64 percent, making it the world's largest direct cash transfer scheme.

Similar cash transfer scheme in Brazil and China had a total of about 2.2 crore beneficiaries, he said. So far, Rs 2,820 crore has been transfered to consumers who have joined the Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG
(DBTL) scheme.

"The DBTL Scheme for LPG consumers (PAHAL) was launched on November 15, 2014 in 54 districts and in the rest of the country on January 1, 2015. The Scheme aims to transfer the subsidy on LPG directly into the bank accounts of over 15 crore LPG consumers," he said.

Pradhan said the government is looking at roping in 75 to 80 percent consumers before the Budget session of Parliament begins on February 23.

The MyLPG.In portal, which provides one stop solutions to cooking gas consumers - from joining DBTL to knowing their status of their refil bookings and cash subsidy received, will be also be available in 10 regional languages.

From February 1, the portal will be available in Hindi, Odiya, Tamil and Gujarati besides English, he said, adding that portal kiosks will also be set up major cities to allow consumers to access their LPG accounts.

LPG consumers have time till March 31 to join the scheme, failing which they will not get any subsidy and will be forced to buy LPG at market rate.

(PTI)