PM Modi launches Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for BPL Women
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Rs. 8,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) scheme to provide 5 crore LPG connections to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in the next 3 financial years.This scheme is being funded in part from savings from over 1 crore ‘well-off’ cooking gas users voluntarily giving up their LPG subsidy. The ‘Give it up’ initiative was first rolled out a year ago on March 27th, 2015, at the behest of Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
Addressing the large gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the participation of such a large number of people in an official programme related to development only proves that the schemes are actually reaching out to the beneficiaries even at grass roots levels.
Talking about PMUY, he said that that the Government of India had initiated the ‘Give It Up’ scheme on 27 March 2015 as an appeal to the ‘better – off’ sections of the society to give up their subsidy on LPG cylinders which then may be used to provide LPG connections to the poor. “Over 1 crore consumers have given up their subsidy leading to a savings of nearly Rs. 2000 crore per year. This money would thus be utilised to provide LPG connections to
families Below Poverty Line. My compliments to Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan and the entire Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for working on mission mode on this initiative and making it such a grand success”, said the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
Elaborating on the PMUY, the Hon’ble Prime Minister said that over 5 crore BPL women would be provided LPG connections in the next three years, without having to pay any security deposit. While the administrative cost of Rs. 1600 per connection, pressure regulator booklet and safety hose would be borne by the Government, consumers
would have the option to purchase gas stove and refills on EMI. To cater to this increased demand for LPG, nearly 10,000 new distributorships and adequate infrastructure expansion plans are in the pipeline, which will lead to improved employment opportunities for the youth.
Background: On 10th March, 2016, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – Scheme for Providing LPG connections to Women belonging to BPL Households. The Scheme provides financial support of Rs 1600 for each LPG connection to BPL households, who would be identified as per the SECC data. This Scheme would be implemented over three years, namely, the FY 2016 – 17, 2017 – 18 and 2018 – 19.
This is the first time in the history of the country that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas would implement a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households.
Consumers are currently entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2 kg each or 34 bottles of 5 kg each in a year at subsidised rates. Customers pay the non – subsidized price for LPG refills, while the subsidy element is transferred directly to their bank accounts under the Pahal initiative. The Pahal scheme has helped cut the government’s subsidy bill on LPG by Rs.15,000 crore. Subsidy saving of around Rs. 1200 crore has been achieved through the “Give It Up” campaign and is being used to provide LPG connections to the poor under the ‘Give back’ scheme. A total of 2.03 crore LPG connections were released in 2015 – 16, of which over 50 lakh were to BPL families.
Significance of PMUY:
The scheme is expected to usher in significant benefits for the country:
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It will increase usage of LPG thus reducing health disorders due to usage of polluting conventional cooking fuels like wood, cowdung, etc.
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It will reduce air pollution caused by smoke from solid fuel usage in kitchens andother places.
- It will ensure reduced deforestation and cutting down trees for firewood
Budget Provision: In this direction, Finance Minister in Budget speech on 29.2.2016 had announced a budgetary provision of Rs. 2000 crore for 2016-17 to provide LPG connections to 1.5 crore women belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. Further, the Budget announced that the Scheme will be continued for two more years to cover 5 crore households.
Infrastructure strengthening:
The demand of LPG is expected to rise in double digits with new connections provided under the PMUY. India currently has 16.64 crore active LPG consumers with a requirement of about 21 million tonne perannum LPG requirement. The 3 public sector Oil Marketing Companies have approved plans to expand rated LPG bottling capacity from the present over 15,000 thousand metric tonne per annum (TMTPA) by around 10% by the end of FY 17 – 18, so as to meet the expected increase in LPG demand.