POL mCoupon, an online application was developed with the main motive to improve public service delivery of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and kerosene in the country. However, people living in rural parts of Thimphu District claim the app is not user-friendly and has failed to serve its purpose.
Following the confusion created by the introduction of the online coupon system in the rural areas, local government leaders appealed for the continual practice of gas card system at the Thimphu Dzongkhag Tshogdu yesterday.
“It is very convenient for those who are literate and are aware of such procedures. But for people like us, as many of us don’t own a phone. Also, the app is very complicated, it is not user-friendly without a picture or drawings on it,” Thubten Wangchuk, the Kawang Gup, said.
“Forget about the smartphones, some of the villagers cannot afford a small gadget which cost up to Nu 1,000 to 2,000. For them, it is difficult to cope with such system,” Wangdi, the Lingzhi Gup, said.
The trade officer from the Regional Trade and Industry Office said the app is user-friendly. It requires only a few easy steps while applying for a coupon.
“It is not necessary to own a smartphone for availing the service. Moreover, the latest updated app doesn’t require any alphabet to be typed. If you know your Citizenship ID number and phone number, it will do. We now have drawings of LPG cylinder and a jerry can for kerosene making it more user-friendly,” Phub Tshering, the Trade Officer, said.
He added, the ministry has ordered to assign a person at the LPG depot who will be responsible to help rural consumers without smartphones.
The DT meeting directed the economic affairs ministry to create more awareness programs on the application’s usage in rural areas.
The ministry was also asked to further promote non-subsidized LPG cylinders so that the rural population and low-income households will have improved access to subsidized gas cylinders.
The G2C office in collaboration with the Department of Trade developed the POL mCoupon app last year. Its use was strictly implemented for availing refilled LPG cylinders and kerosene in Thimphu from this year.
