Kottayam: A government figure from January 1, 2022, revealed that 1.08 crore people in the country resorted to buying LPG cylinders at a higher price by giving up their subsidies. The decision to voluntarily give up subsidies came in the backdrop of the government aiming to provide cooking gas free of cost to the poor.

For the last two years, the subsidy announced by the government is yet to be received by consumers. Earlier, the subsidies had reached the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. Despite fluctuations in LPG price in different states, the overall cost to the beneficiary was around Rs 500 per cylinder. Meantime, the additional expense paid by the consumer was credited to the account as a subsidy within a few months. At present, the price of a cylinder is more than Rs 900 and without receiving the subsidy the full amount is paid by the consumer.

Even though the fuel companies have assured the gas agencies that subsidies will be distributed, no action has been taken at the government level. The agencies are still preparing and submitting the documents so that the subsidy can be received.

In Kerala, 3.03 lakh consumers have given up subsidies. Meantime, Maharashtra was the first state, with around 17 lakh consumers, to waive the subsidy.