Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

On 1 May 2016, during his visit to Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’. Here’s a look at some vital details regarding the scheme:

What is Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana all about?

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is basically an NDA government scheme created with the aim of providing five crore free cooking (LPG) connections to all families below the poverty line, over the next three years i.e. till 2019. PM Narendra Modi was quoted as saying that the reason behind choosing Ballia to launch the scheme was the low number of LPG connections available in the city. Serving as a boon for both, men and women, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana would include offering subsidy in the Jan Dhan accounts of the family’s woman head so as to curb any chances of corruption. LPG connections would also aid in improving the health of women who need to cook food on firewood and hence tend to encounter thick, unhealthy smoke.

How does Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Work?

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana inculcates rendering a monetary support of Rs. 1,600 for each LPG connection to BPL households. Identification of all BPL families, eligible for the scheme would be made after detailed discussions with the state governments and the Union Territories, via the Socio-Economic Caste Census of 2011.

What is the role of ‘Give It Up’ initiative?

With a total cost of Rs. 8,000 crore, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will partially be funded using the money that has been saved from 1.13 crore cooking gas users who voluntarily gave up their subsidies via PM Modi’s ‘Give It Up’ initiative. A whopping Rs. 5,000 crore subsidy saved through this campaign will now be used to provide LPG connections to families which lack even the basic amenities of life.

What are the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana?

Indian government claims that the drive to provide LPG connections to BPL families will ensure a global coverage of cooking gas in different parts of India. Additionally, it will also empower women, improve their basic health condition, reduce drudgery and the overall time that is otherwise spent on cooking food. Even the rural youth, engaged in the supply chain of cooking gas, would be able to spot better employment opportunities via the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.