Launched in 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) seeks to ensure the well-being of women and children by providing access to clean cooking fuel in the form of LPG. Not only has the scheme successfully achieved its initial targets, but it has also developed into a noteworthy initiative, adeptly tackling health and environmental challenges.
Milestones and Expansion
PMUY began with a target of distributing 50 million LPG connections by March 2020, a goal surpassed ahead of schedule in September 2019. Subsequently, Ujjwala 2.0 in the Union Budget for FY 21-22 marked a new chapter, allocating an additional 1.6 crore LPG connections, with a specific focus on migrant households. Surpassing expectations, the Ujjwala 2.0 target was achieved in December 2022, bringing the total to an impressive 9.6 crore. With an additional 75 lakh LPG connections, as of today, the total stands at an admirable 10.35 crore.
Major Benefits of PMUY
Beyond providing clean cooking fuel, PMUY addresses critical health issues associated with unclean fuels, significantly reducing non-communicable diseases like heart disease and respiratory issues.
The scheme also serves as a tool for women’s empowerment, alleviating their cooking responsibilities and creating avenues for personal and economic development.
The involvement of rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas adds a commendable dimension to the scheme. PMUY’s comprehensive coverage extends to all forms of distributorship, ensuring that various sizes of cylinders are distributed as per the field situation.
Benefits for BPL Families
PMUY specifically targets families below the poverty line, providing financial support of Rs 1,600 for each LPG connection. The government covers the administrative cost of this support, including the security fee for the cylinder, pressure regulator, booklet, safety hose, and other fitting charges. Oil marketing companies also play a role by providing interest-free loans for refilling and purchasing stoves.
Priority States
The benefits of PMUY are not confined to specific regions; they extend to the people of all hilly states, including the northeast states, treated as ‘Priority States.’ This ensures that the advantages of the scheme reach even the most challenging terrains. The scheme effectively addresses difficulties faced by people in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Tripura in accessing LPG for cooking purposes.
Objectives and Environmental Impact
The primary objectives of PMUY – empowering women, protecting health, controlling indoor pollution, and preserving the environment – have been resoundingly met. The scheme actively contributes to environmental sustainability by curbing indoor pollution and preventing degradation of the environment caused by the widespread usage of unclean cooking fuel.