Shillong, June 19: The scheme Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which was launched by Mr Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 1st May 2016 at Ballia in Uttar Pradesh is a scheme to provide clean cooking fuel to the women belonging to the ‘Below Poverty Line’ (BPL) households across the country. PMUY aims to provide LPG connections to 5 Crore BPL households by 2019 and is a part of larger program of adding 10 Crore new LPG connections by 2019 to achieve full coverage of connections in Indian households.
This is the first time in the history of the country that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas is implementing a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the BPL households. The identification of BPL families is made based on Social Economic Caste Census (SECC)- 2011 data. Providing LPG connections to BPL households will ensure universal coverage of cooking gas in the country. The scheme of providing clean cooking fuel will reduce drudgery, the time spent on cooking and will also provide employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas.
PMUY scheme provides assistance of Rs. 1600/- to the woman beneficiary, comprising security deposit for 14.2 Kg cylinder and domestic pressure regulator; suraksha hose; domestic gas consumer card and installation charges. In addition to this, the beneficiary will have the choice to avail EMI option to pay the cost of LPG Stove or first Installation or both. Cost of LPG Stove or availing loan on Refill or both will be recovered on EMI basis by the OMC from the subsidy amount due to the customer on purchase of each refill.
Subsequent to the launch of the scheme on 1st May, 2016 at Balia in UP; several regional launches took place for the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Odisha, Bihar, Haryana, Chattisgarh , Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to expedite enrolment of more and more of beneficiaries in the scheme. Within a span of one year of its launch, more than 2.2 crore beneficiaries have been released LPG connections under the scheme throughout the country.
The launch of PMUY in Meghalaya marked one more step in the direction of providing LPG connections to 5 crore families who are Below Poverty Line (BPL). As a symbolic launch of the PMUY in Meghalaya, 24 beneficiaries from ‘Below Poverty Line’ (BPL) families were handed over with deposit free PMUY connections. Meghalaya, as on 01.06.2017, has around 6.32 Lacs house hold with an LPG coverage of 23%. The Oil Marketing Companies would strive to achieve 100% penetration in days to come. The OMCs will be organizing “Melas” and “Camps” at various locations for releasing of connection to BPL families. Presently, 46 Distributors are catering to 1.45 lakh consumers in the state of Meghalay. Further, introduction of six new LPG Distributors are in pipeline to meet the surge in LPG demand in the state.
Hailing PMUY as a program that directly addresses the sufferings of poor women managing kitchen and household, especially in rural areas, Smt Roshan Warjri, , Hon’ble Minister Health & Family Welfare Government of Meghalaya, expressed her gratitude towards Sri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister for this initiative. Referring to PMUY as a significant step forward towards Women Empowerment, Smt Warjri urged the OMCs and Distributors to focus on raising Customer awareness regarding the utility of the LPG as cooking fuel.
Mr Rajen Gohain, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Railways, Government of India in his address mentioned that over 1 crore consumers have responded to PM’s call of “Give it Up” and this in turn has facilitated Government of India’s initiative of PMYU. He emphasized on Government’s commitment to development of poorest section of the society and mentioned that PMUY is a part of Hon’ble Prime Minister’s dream of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas.
From the state government who were present include Smt. Roshan Warjri, Hon’ble Minister Health & Family Welfare,Government of Meghalaya in the august presence of Sri Kennedy C Khyriem, Parliamentary Secretary, Govt. of Meghalaya, Sri P W Ingty (IAS), Additional Chief Secretary , Govt. of Meghalaya and Smt Iona R Sangma (IAS), Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya. The Hon’ble Guests were welcomed by Sri Dipankar Ray, Executive Director, Indian Oil AOD State Office, IOCL. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Sri S S Thangkhiew, State Level Coordinator, Oil Industry, Meghalaya.
