J&K | LPG Consumers Flag Issues With e-KYC, Lack Of Smartphones

LPG consumers in the Kashmir valley are facing difficulties in getting their cylinders refilled as distributors are witnessing a huge rush of customers for the mandatory eKYC of their connections.
While the distributors deal with the rush, many customers are facing issues with the self-eKYC after the government made it mandatory to procure refills.
From non-smartphone penetration to privacy concerns, customers have flagged several issues in the way of eKYC.
“I have an LPG connection and have to do the mandatory eKYC, which means I have to download two apps on my phone and then undertake the process. These apps need several phone permissions, which raises privacy concerns,” Yawar Ahmad, a consumer in the city here, said.
Shazia, a home-maker, said many women like her do not have smartphones, so undertaking eKYC by installing applications does not make sense. “I have a Ujjwala connection and I cannot afford a smartphone, so how will I do the self-eKYC?” she asked.
Some customers said such “service bottlenecks” were caused as the government’s facing severe issues with the supply of LPG due to the crisis in the Middle East.
While OTP has been mandatory at the time of gas delivery, many consumers have received messages about gas being delivered without sharing the OTP. “I received an OTP, which I didn’t share with the distributor, but then I still got the message about gas being delivered. However, the gas was not delivered,” Mehraj Ahmad, another consumer, said.
“These messages are computer-generated by an app. However, the booking is effective only after eKYC,” a distributor here said. (Agencies)