What is PM Ujjwala Yojana?

Introduction:

• Pradhanmantri Ujjwala Yojana scheme was launched on 1st May 2016 from Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh by our Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Initially, the scheme was launched with the aim of distributing 5 crore LPG connections to women who live below the poverty line in our country.
• The Government of India then aims to distribute LPG connections to 8 crore women by March 2020.
• The budget allocated by the Government of India for this scheme is Rs 8000 crore and Rs 4800 crore respectively in different stages.
• The Government of India achieved this 8 crore LPG connections target in September 2019, which is 7 months ahead of the estimated date.
• The Government of India has partnered with some of the oil companies in India to implement the scheme. They are IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL.
• The entire scheme is maintained under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).

Objectives:

• The main objective of the scheme is to provide clean fuel to women who live below the poverty line in India.
• The scheme helps women to be empowered, helps to maintain their good health and Clean cooking fuel decreases cooking time and exertion.
• The scheme also has objectives such as providing fuel at an economic cost and a safe clean fuel that will help protect the environment.
• Another objective is to control indoor pollution from the use of fossil fuels while cooking.

Benefits:

• Deposit-free LPG connection is given to women who are below the poverty line.
• Financial assistance of Rs. 1600/- through the scheme for each connection to every woman below the poverty line.
• Some oil companies offer interest-free loans to fill 5kg or 14kg LPG cylinders and buy stoves.

Eligibility:

• Applicant woman must be over 18 years of age.
• Applicant woman should be listed as a Below Poverty Line household in the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011.
• Applicant women should not register with any other such kind of similar scheme.

PM Ujjwala Yojana 2.0:

• The latest version of the scheme was launched on 10 August 2021 on the occasion of World Biofuel Day.
• The main objective of launch this 2.0 scheme is to give an advantage to the migrants who live in different states and who have difficulties submitting address verification.
• The scheme has an additional target of 10 million LPG connections to women who are below the poverty line.
• Another aim is to provide pipeline gas to 21 lakh households in 50 districts in the coming days.

Achievements:

• The 8th crore LPG connections were achieved on 7th September 2019.
• LPG coverage in India has improved from 62% in May 2016 to 104.1% as of January 01, 2022.
• Women in UP, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are the biggest beneficiaries of the smoke-free kitchen initiative.
• The International Energy Agency says that this scheme is a “major achievement” in reducing pollution and promoting better women’s health.
• The WHO report (2018) states that Ujjwala Yojana has provided livelihood to 37 million women. Below the poverty line, with free LPG connections to support them to switch to clean household energy consumption.

Challenges:

• Raising the price of LPG cylinders is the first challenge to the success of this scheme.
• Most people can not even have the Affordability to refill a 14 kg cylinder.
• Biomass, firewood, crop Residue, and dung cakes are primary cooking fuels and are free of cost from nature.
• Not willing to pay Rs 900-1000 in advance for a 14 kg cylinder to refill.
• The survey found that accounts that are inactive are increasing day by day.

Way forward:

• An option may be given to refill more 5 kg cylinders.
• Refilling with a subsidy can increase the number of active accounts day by day in the future.
• The scheme should also be extended to poor families in metropolitan and semi-metropolitan areas.
• The inclusion of self-help groups in the scheme may establish effective progress and also increase active accounts.

Frequently Asked Question and Answers:

1) What are the eligibility criteria for becoming a beneficiary under PMUY?

Ans: Women candidates in the family are eligible for the scheme, the applicant woman must be above 18 years of age, the family must be listed below the Poverty Line in the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 and the applicant woman should not enroll in such a similar scheme sponsored by the Central or State Governments.

2) What achievements are reached by the Government of India through Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Scheme (PMUY)?

Ans: For the first time, the Government of India reached 8 crore LPG connections on 7 September 2019. As per the latest reports, LPG coverage in India has improved from 62% in May 2016 to 104.1% as of January 01, 2022. Mostly Women in UP, West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are the biggest beneficiaries of the smoke-free kitchen initiative. Recently The International Energy Agency said that this scheme is a “major achievement” in reducing pollution and promoting better women’s health. The WHO report (2018) states that Ujjwala Yojana has provided livelihood to 37 million women. Below the poverty line, with free LPG connections to support them to switch to clean household energy consumption.

3) What are the benefits offered by the Government of India through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Scheme (PMUY)?

Ans: The Government of India provides deposit-free LPG connections are given to women who are below the poverty line. The Government of India has also allocated Rs. 1600/- to Provide financial assistance through this scheme for each connection to every woman who is below the poverty line. Under the scheme, some oil companies offer interest-free loans to fill 5kg or 14kg LPG cylinders and buy stoves.

4) What are the challenges facing the Government of India in making the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Scheme (PMUY) a successful scheme?

Ans: Raising the prices of LPG cylinders is the first challenge facing the Government of India for the success of this scheme. Most people can not even have the Affordability to refill a 14 kg cylinder. Many people transform back again to Biomass, firewood, crop Residue, and dung cakes for cooking because those are primary cooking fuels and are free of cost from nature. Most people are not willing to pay Rs 900-1000 in advance for a 14 kg cylinder to refill. The latest survey reveals that the number of inactive accounts is increasing day by day.

5) What is PM Ujjwala Yojana 2.0 scheme and the main objective to launch this scheme?

Ans: The latest version of the scheme is PM Ujjwala Yojana 2. O was launched on 10 August 2021 on the occasion of World Biofuel Day. The main objective to lunch this 2. O scheme is to give an advantage to the migrants who live in different states and who have difficulties submitting address verification. The scheme has an additional target is 10 million LPG connections to women who are below the poverty line. Another objective is to provide pipeline gas to 21 lakh households in 50 districts in the coming days.