The government has recently made a significant announcement regarding the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a welfare program aimed at providing LPG cooking fuel to rural households. During a briefing on Cabinet decisions, Union Minister Anurag Thakur revealed that the subsidy amount for beneficiaries of this scheme has been raised from ₹200 to ₹300 per LPG cylinder. This decision follows closely on the heels of a reduction in the price of cylinders for all domestic consumers by ₹200, which was implemented just last month.
As a result of this increase in subsidy, there will be an additional financial implication of ₹7,680 crore for the financial year 2023-24. Currently, Ujjwala beneficiaries pay ₹703 per 14.2-kg cylinder, compared to the market price of ₹903. However, with this recent Cabinet decision, they will now pay ₹603 per cylinder.
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which was initiated on May 1, 2016, by Prime Minister Modi in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, has a primary objective of ensuring access to clean cooking fuel, namely LPG, for rural households. The scheme places a particular emphasis on providing LPG connections to women from below the poverty line (BPL) households, as well as to members of SC/ST communities, beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Antyoday Anna Yojana (AAY), forest dwellers, and other disadvantaged groups.
This development is a significant step in enhancing the affordability and accessibility of clean cooking fuel for vulnerable and marginalized communities across India, contributing to their overall well-being and environmental sustainability.
