LPG Revolution: Official data shows that a record 17 crore new LPG connections have helped double the cooking gas consumer base to 31.26 crore in the last 9 years.
Active domestic LPG consumers to increase from 14.52 crore in April 2014 to 31.36 crore by March 2023. This significant increase is mainly due to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which has led to an increase in LPG coverage from just over 62 per cent. The percentage increased to 104.1 percent in 2022 in 2016.
From the time when there was a waiting period to get a new LPG connection, and delivery of an LPG refill cylinder took 7-10 days, LPG connections are now available on demand, and have the advantage of partial refills within 24 hours can be raised. in most places.
5 kg cylinder introduced for consumers
In addition to the conventional 14.2 kg cylinders, state-owned fuel retailers have introduced 5 kg cylinders for consumers with low demand or low purchasing power.
PMUY was launched on May 01, 2016, with an aim to provide free LPG connection to every poor household.
By January 30, 2023, the total number of connections released under PMUY is 9.58 crore, the data showed. On March 24, 2023, the Union Cabinet approved a subsidy of Rs 200 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per year for PMUY beneficiaries.
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PMUY was launched with an aim to protect the health of women and children by shifting the kitchen from firewood and other smoky cooking mediums to clean fuels.
The scheme provides deposit-free LPG connections to eligible households with financial assistance of Rs 1,600 per connection. First LPG refill and gas chulha provided free of cost for the first time by Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
The initial target was to provide LPG connections to 5 crore women members of BPL households. Subsequently, the scheme was expanded and the target was revised to 8 crore LPG connections. To cover the remaining households under PMUY, Ujjwala 2.0 was launched on August 10, 2021 to provide an additional one crore LPG connections on a pan-India basis.
Ujjwala 2.0 achieved its goal
The target of Ujjwala 2.0 was achieved on January 31, 2022. Based on the large number of applications, the government has extended the scheme with 60 lakh more connections under Ujjwala 2.0. The data shows that the per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries has increased from 3.01 refills in 2019-20 to 3.66 refills in FY 2021-22.
With the implementation of PMUY, about one lakh people have got employment through LPG distribution system. As part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package, over 14 crore free LPG refills were provided to PMUY beneficiaries during the initial months of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
Under PMUY, LPG connections are issued in the name of an adult woman from a poor household. Data shows that 35.1% of PMUY beneficiaries are from SC/ST categories. Women have been the biggest beneficiaries of PMUY in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
A WHO report in 2018 said that the Ujjwala scheme had provided free LPG connections to 37 million women living below the poverty line to help them switch to cleaner household energy use. This tremendous increase in LPG coverage among Indian households has been instrumental in improving the health of women by providing them with clean cooking fuel and making the kitchen smoke-free, thereby benefiting the environment.