Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: LPG replaced the stove, along with ‘Ujjwala’ lakhs of dear sisters also benefited.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: Vaibhav Shridhar, Bhopal. Women empowerment has been the focus point of the BJP’s double engine government. While the Modi government at the Center took many steps for women empowerment, the state government also did not lag behind in this. Taking a step forward, the Chief Minister implemented a scheme like Laadli Brahmin, in which 1.25 crore women are getting Rs 1250 per month. At the same time, considering environmental protection, pollution control and women’s health, schemes like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala were implemented, the benefits of which are being availed by 82 lakh women of Madhya Pradesh.

Due to this, the smoky stove was replaced by multi-purpose cooking gas. Not only this, giving great relief from inflation, LPG cylinder is being made available in the state for only Rs 450. However, it is taking two-three months for the beneficiaries to receive the amount of this grant. Whereas, the entire work of gas agencies is computerized, hence there is a need to strengthen the online system.

There was a time when cooking gas was beyond the reach of the majority of the country’s population. In most of the houses in rural areas, food was cooked on the stove. The smoke from wood and coal not only caused pollution but also had adverse effects on women’s health. Keeping this in mind, with the slogan of ‘clean fuel, better life’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi implemented Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for poor families on May 1, 2016, which has freed more than 82 lakh women in the state from burning stoves. .

After getting the free cylinder for the first time, buying the expensive cylinder was not within everyone’s reach. It also came to light that a large number of cylinders were not being refilled, meaning that food was being cooked on the stove. In view of this, Modi government increased the subsidy per refill to Rs 300. The state government has taken it a step further and determined that under the scheme, LPG cylinder will be available for only Rs 450. Certainly this is a big relief for the common consumers.

Dear sisters were also included in the scheme

The then Shivraj government decided to extend the benefits of the facilities being provided to women under the Ujjwala scheme to the beneficiaries of the Ladli Brahmin scheme in the year 2023. About one crore 25 lakh sisters in the state are involved in this. Beneficiaries of Ladli Brahmin Yojana and Ujjwala Yojana have been given the facility of grant for refilling LPG cylinders as per their eligibility. Eligibility for subsidy is maximum on 12 cylinders in a year.

The condition for this is that the gas connection should be in the name of the beneficiary woman. The consumer has to first pay the full amount to the gas agency to get the cylinder and then the company will deposit the subsidy amount in their Aadhaar linked bank account. This system has been made so that only the real beneficiary gets the benefit. It is noteworthy that bank accounts of 3.7 crore women have been opened in the state through Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana.

There is a delay in getting the grant amount

The entire system from taking gas connection to distribution is computerized. The agency has complete data of consumers. When he refills, it is entered and the data goes to the gas companies. In such a situation, there should be no delay in transfer of the grant amount to the consumer’s account. Presently the government gives a lump sum grant amount for two-three months.

Actually, gas companies give information about the beneficiaries who get refills to the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department and then the amount is paid to the company. One problem in the scheme is that gas connections are not in the name of women. When the Ladli Brahmin Yojana was linked to the LPG subsidy, it came to light that only those women who had the connection in their names would get the benefit.

Consumers approached the gas agency for rectification but there was hesitation. If the benefits of the scheme are to be given to all women, then this process should also be simplified so that the intention of the government can be fulfilled.

The plan is good but only the beneficiaries get the benefits.

Certainly the plan is good. This will also protect the environment and control the adverse effects of smoke on eyes and lungs on women’s health. By getting LPG cylinders at discounted rates, consumers will be able to use the savings on other purposes. There is a need that the grant amount should be received regularly and only the eligible ones should be benefited. – Muktesh Varshney. Former Principal Secretary, Madhya Pradesh