The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a significant government initiative in India designed to provide clean cooking fuel access, specifically liquified petroleum gas (LPG), to households that previously relied on more polluting and hazardous cooking fuels such as firewood and cow dung. Launched with the intention of enhancing the health and well-being of women and children, the scheme aims to mitigate indoor air pollution resulting from traditional cooking methods.
Under the PMUY scheme, financial assistance is offered to eligible beneficiaries, mainly women from below-poverty-line households, to secure an LPG connection. This assistance encompasses the costs associated with the initial connection, the stove, and the first cylinder of LPG. After this, beneficiaries are required to purchase LPG cylinders at prevailing market rates for their cooking requirements.
The importance of the PMUY scheme lies in its multifaceted approach to addressing pressing issues in India. It plays a vital role in empowering women by alleviating the burden of gathering firewood and cow dung for cooking. This shift not only conserves their time for other essential activities, including education and employment but also significantly reduces indoor air pollution, which poses severe health risks, particularly for women and children.
In recent developments, the Cabinet has approved an expansion of the PMUY scheme, aiming to provide 75 lakh new LPG connections over the next three years, extending through 2025-26. This expansion is expected to increase the total number of beneficiaries under PMUY to 103.5 million.
Yes, the government has implemented subsidies for PMUY beneficiaries. In May 2022, a targeted subsidy of approximately Rs.200 per cooking gas cylinder (14.2 kg) was announced for 90 million PMUY beneficiaries, covering up to 12 refills for the fiscal year 2022-23. This subsidy was later extended for an additional year in March.
The PMUY scheme has dramatically enhanced LPG penetration across India. Data from the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell illustrates that overall LPG penetration reached an impressive 99.9 percent in 2022, primarily attributed to the PMUY initiative. As of April 1, there were 314 million households equipped with LPG connections throughout the country.
The beneficiaries of the PMUY scheme are predominantly women from below-poverty-line households in both rural and urban settings. The selection process for beneficiaries relies on socioeconomic criteria, ensuring that eligible households receive the necessary financial support to obtain their initial LPG connection.
The primary objectives of the PMUY scheme include promoting women’s empowerment, diminishing indoor air pollution, and facilitating access to clean and sustainable cooking fuel. These goals aim to foster better health outcomes and overall well-being for the beneficiaries.
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