Cabinet Greenlights Expansion of Ujjwala Yojana, Enabling 75 Lakh Additional LPG Connections Over Three Years

In a move to extend the reach of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the release of an additional 75 lakh LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) connections over the course of three years, spanning from the Financial Year 2023-24 to 2025-26. This significant expansion is set to elevate the total number of PMUY beneficiaries to an impressive 10.35 crore.

Key LPG Statistics: 2014 vs. 2023

• National LPG Coverage: From 55.90% (01.04.2014) to near saturation at 61.9% (01.04.2016) and now approaching full coverage.
• No. of Bottling Plants of OMCs: Increased from 186 (01.04.2014) to 208 (01.04.2023).
• No. of LPG Distributors in India: Surged from 13,896 (01.04.2014) to 25,386 (01.04.2023).
• Domestic Active LPG Customers in India: Significantly grew from 1,451.76 lakh (01.04.2014) to 3,140.33 lakh (01.04.2023).

The extended Ujjwala 2.0 program will continue to provide the first LPG refill and a stove free of cost to Ujjwala beneficiaries.

A targeted subsidy of Rs. 200 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for up to 12 refills per year will be extended to PMUY consumers. The continuation of PMUY ensures that eligible households in need will continue to benefit from this vital scheme.

Empowering Women Through Clean Cooking: A Global Imperative

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one-third of the global population, roughly 2.4 billion people, rely on open fires or inefficient stoves fueled by sources like kerosene, biomass, and coal for cooking. This dependence leads to harmful household air pollution, contributing to an estimated 3.2 million deaths annually as of 2020, with over 237,000 of these fatalities involving children under the age of 5. Addressing household air pollution is crucial for achieving a sustainable and pollution-free future, with a particular emphasis on preventing suffering among women and children.

In the past, impoverished communities in India, especially in rural areas, utilized traditional fuels like firewood, coal, and dung cakes, often unaware of the adverse health effects they caused. Consequently, they faced health issues without understanding the underlying causes. Increased mortality risks due to illnesses such as pneumonia, lung cancer, ischaemic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases have been extensively documented. Moreover, the use of non-renewable wood fuels for cooking results in a significant amount of CO2 emissions and contributes to household air pollution due to incomplete combustion of solid biomass.

Research also highlights that this issue has a gender dimension, with girls and women facing greater exposure to solid fuels. Cooking with solid fuels hinders progress towards five of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The PMUY initiative has not only economically empowered women but also enhanced their social standing. With easier access to LPG, women are relieved of the burden of collecting firewood or traditional fuels, which often involved arduous and time-consuming journeys. This newfound convenience enables them to participate more actively in community life and pursue additional income-generating opportunities.

Additionally, the Ujjwala scheme has contributed to improving the safety and security of women. No longer required to venture into isolated and potentially unsafe areas to gather firewood or fuel, women can now enjoy greater personal safety.

Initiatives to Expand LPG Coverage:

• PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hastantarit Labh): Instead of providing LPG cylinders at subsidized prices, they are sold at market rates, with applicable subsidies directly transferred to individuals’ bank accounts electronically. This approach reduces “ghost” accounts and the unauthorized commercial use of household cylinders, ensuring that subsidies reach the intended beneficiaries.
• GIVE IT UP: Encouraging individuals to voluntarily surrender their LPG subsidies. Through extensive promotion, millions of people willingly gave up their subsidies, redirecting funds to those genuinely in need of LPG cylinders.
• COVID-19 Support: During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020, a free refill scheme was implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, providing assistance of Rs. 9,670.41 crore to PMUY beneficiaries, supporting 14.17 crore LPG refills.
• Increased Consumption: Per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries has increased from 3.01 in 2018-19 to 3.71 in 2022-23. Beneficiaries now use over 35 crore LPG refills annually (2022-23)