Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: Empowering Women Through Clean Cooking
Introduction of Ujjwala Yojana:
- Launched on May 1, 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh.
- Aim: Providing LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
Ujjwala Yojana Overview:
- Original target: 8 Crore LPG Connections by March 2020.
- Additional provision in Union Budget FY 21-22: 1 Crore LPG connections.
- Special facility for migrant families introduced.
- Extension: 75 lakh LPG connections over three years (FY 2023-24 to 2025-26).
Current Status of Ujjwala Yojana:
- As of March 1, 2024, 10.27 crore PMUY beneficiaries.
Need for the Ujjwala Yojana:
- Limited access to clean cooking gas among the poor.
- Health hazards associated with cooking based on fossil fuels.
- WHO estimates: About 5 lakh deaths annually in India due to unclean cooking fuels.
- Benefits: Empowerment of women, health protection, reduction of drudgery, and employment generation.
Target Beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojana:
- Eligible beneficiaries: Adult women from specified categories including SC, ST, PMAY (Gramin), AAY, etc.
- Applicant eligibility: Must be 18 years or older; no existing LPG connections in the household.
- SC Households
- ST Households
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)
- Most Backward Classes
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
- Tea and Ex- Tea Garden tribes
- Forest Dwellers
- People residing in Islands and River Islands
- SECC Households (AHL TIN)
- Poor Household as per 14-point declaration
- Applicant must have attained 18 years of age.
- There should not be any other LPG connections in the same household.
Benefits to Citizens:
- Cash assistance provided by the Government: Rs. 1600 (for 14.2kg cylinder) or Rs. 1150 (for 5kg cylinder).
- Cash assistance covers security deposit, pressure regulator, LPG hose, domestic gas consumer card, and installation charges.
- First LPG refill and stove provided free of cost to all PMUY beneficiaries.
- Security Deposit of Cylinder – Rs. 1250 for 14.2 kg cylinder/ Rs. 800 for 5 kg cylinder
- Pressure Regulator – Rs. 150
- LPG Hose – Rs. 100
- Domestic Gas Consumer Card – Rs. 25
- Inspection/ Installation/ Demonstration charges – Rs. 75
Subsidy Scheme:
- Targeted subsidy: Rs. 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per year during FY 2024-25.
Implementation Process of the Scheme:
- Application Submission:
- Women from BPL households without access to LPG can apply for a new connection through the LPG distributor.
- Online application available, accessible here.
- Required Details:
- KYC documentation.
- Ration card issued by the respective state or other relevant state government documents certifying family composition. For migrant applicants, Annexure I self-declaration form.
- Aadhaar of beneficiary and adult family members mentioned in the document.
- Proof of address. Aadhaar serves as both proof of identity and address if the connection is needed at the same address. In such cases, only Aadhaar is required.
- Bank account number and IFSC.
- Verification Process:
- LPG field officials match the application against the SECC – 2011 database to verify BPL status.
- Details entered into a dedicated OMC web portal using login credentials provided by OMCs.
- OMCs electronically conduct de-duplication exercises and other due diligence measures for new LPG connections.
- Connection Issuance:
- OMCs issue connections to eligible beneficiaries after completing the verification stages.
- Financial Options:
- Government bears connection charges.
- OMCs offer the option for EMIs to cover the cost of a cooking stove and the first refill, if desired by the consumer. EMIs can be deducted from the subsidy amount due on each refill.
- Contributions for stove and refill costs by state governments, voluntary organizations, or individuals must coordinate with OMCs under PMUY guidelines, subject to MoP&NG approval.
- Mela Organization:
- OMCs organize melas at various locations to facilitate connection release for BPL families.
- Events conducted in the presence of public representatives and notable local figures.
- Coverage:
- Scheme encompasses BPL families under all distributorship forms and for various cylinder sizes based on field conditions (e.g., 14.2 kg, 5 kg, etc.).
Contact Information:
- Helplines: 1906 (LPG Emergency), 1800-2333-5555 (Toll-Free), 1800-266-6696 (Ujjwala Helpline).
- Grievance redressal: MoPNG e-Seva.
For more Details: Visit Official Website of Ujjwala Yojana
Source: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Table: Benefits Covered by Cash Assistance
| Component | Amount (Rs.) |
|---|---|
| Security Deposit (14.2kg) | 1250 |
| Security Deposit (5kg) | 800 |
| Pressure Regulator | 150 |
| LPG Hose | 100 |
| Domestic Gas Consumer Card | 25 |
| Installation Charges | 75 |
(Note: All amounts are in Indian Rupees)
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