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This research paper examines the implementation of the Direct Benefit Transfer for liquefied petroleum gas (DBTL) in the Mysore district of Karnataka, India, based on interviews conducted in October 2013.

The report evaluates a pilot program in Mysore, India, where LPG subsidies were transitioned from price-point subsidies to electronic cash transfers (DBTL). Based on interviews with 120 beneficiaries and focus group discussions, the study finds that the scheme faced significant administrative hurdles, including excessive paperwork and failures in subsidy delivery. It highlights negative impacts on household behavior, such as increased short-term borrowing and a return to biomass fuels for cooking due to the higher upfront cost of unsubsidized cylinders. The report concludes that the pilot was poorly implemented and generally preferred the previous subsidy system.