LPG connection to every family
Prime minister Narendra launched the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. He launched it on May 1st 2016 in Ballia, UP.
About PMUY
According to a WHO report, the unclean smoke inhaled by a women is like burning 400 cigarettes. In addition, women and children strain themselves to collect firewood.
The Government aims to safeguard the health of women and children by providing LPG to every household. For this purpose, it launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Under the scheme, the Government plans to provide 5 Crore LPG connections to BPL families
BPL – Below Poverty Line.
Financial details of PMUY
In addition, the Government plans to achieve this target in the next three years. Hence, the running duration of the scheme is from 2016-17 to 2019-20. The scheme estimates the cost of a single connection as Rs 1600. Therefore, for 5 Crore connections, it allocated Rs 8000 crores.
Above all, the Government provides the connection in the name of the woman member of the family. In addition, it also promises to transfer the subsidy amount directly to their bank accounts.
The government will identify the BPL families through Socio Economic Caste Census Data.
Need for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
- About 75 crore Indian citizens, especially women and children suffer from Household Air Pollution (HAP)
- According to a report from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, HAP is the second leading risk factor contributing to India’s disease burden.
- Furthermore, the WHO says solid fuel causes about 13% mortality in India. It also adds that the same cause leads to about 40% of pulmonary disorders, ischemic heart disease and cataract incidences.
Current rates of LPG
Currently the consumers can avail 12 cylinders of 14.2 kg each per year. Else, they can buy 4 bottles of 5 kg cylinders per year. The subsidised rate of 14.2 kg cylinder is Rs 422. And that of the 5kg cylinder is Rs 155.
The commercial non – subsidised rate of LPG (14.2kg) is Rs 746.50. Discussions are happening at the parliament to raise it to Rs 860! (Source)
The ‘Give It Up Campaign’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the campaign on March 27th 2016. It urged the well – off to give up LPG subsidy so that the needy can use it. The campaign also aims at reducing the country’s energy imports to 10% by 2022.
Accordingly, the citizens who give up their subsidies have to buy LPG at market rates. Hence, with this the government gains Rs 324 from every “Give it up” consumer
Non subsidised – Subsidised = Rs 746 – Rs 422 = Rs 324
With 15 million LPG connections, so far, 1 million consumers have given up their subsidies. Therefore, the net amount is 324 * 1 million. This amount will be used by the Government to implement the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
The citizens who gave up their subsidies received a “Thanking letter” from the Prime Minister.
Analysis of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitaran Yojana and PMUY
The UPA Government launched RGGLVY in 2009. Recently in 2015 the Narendra Modi Government discontinued its operations.
With RGGLVY, incidentally the Indian Oil Corporation topped the chart of distributors with 2, 187 distributors. Under RGGLVY
Details of RGGLVY
- Godown and showroom of the dealers should stay nearby
- The dealer should perform 600 refills per month. And also must serve 1, 200 customers. If not, his dealership will be cancelled.
- The Godown must have the capacity to store 300 cylinders.
On the other hand, all these conditions are exempted from PMUY. The main motto is to serve the BPL population. Also the cost Rs 1, 600 covers the security deposit and the pressure regulator
Positive side of the scheme
- First and foremost fact is that, the scheme is the first initiative of the government for crores of women. Particularly for the women from the poorest families across the country.
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana targets the poorest of the poor. Till date, with the previously launched schemes, the government targeted only the urban and semi – urban areas.
- The government initiates the selling of 5kg cylinders at petrol bunks and grocery shops. Above all, the scheme does not demand an address proof while buying at these places.
 Challenges of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
Identifying the BPL Households
The victory of the scheme lies in its reach to the deserving persons only. In order to achieve this challenge, it is highly important to identify the poor households. The Government is currently relying on Socio – Economic Caste Census data to identify the BPL population. However, this may not suffice the target.
Absence of Appropriate Circulation Channels
Under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitaran Yojana, the consumers collect their cylinders from a dealer. In order to do so, they are now travelling a distance of 3 – 11 kms, that is the one way distance.
Sadly, PMUY has not included this particular problem in its agenda.
Lack of DBT
DBT is Direct Benefit Transfer. In other words, under DBT the government directly transfers the subsidy amount to the beneficiary. Unfortunately, under PMUY, the government depends on the oil companies for buying or importing of the LPG. This is actually the base. The material can reach the public only when it arrives at the right time.
Un – fixed size of Cylinders
The Government has not yet fixed the size of the cylinder that is to be delivered to the BPL households. While the urban population is enjoying 12 cylinders per year, on the other hand the rural hardly uses 4 per year. As discussed earlier the following are the available sizes of cylinders inside India
- 14.2 kg Cylinders – domestic uses
- 5 kg Cylinders – called bottlle packs
- 19 kg cylinder – commercial uses
Lack of Long Term Strategy
With “Give it up” campaign more than a million gave up their subsidies. Such voluntary actions can of course fetch funds at the beginning stages. However, this can never sustain for a long – term.
Illeteracy issues
About 40% of the BPL households deprive the use of LPG. This is mainly bacause of lack of information of getting a connection. For this reason awareness creation and educating them about LPG connection and its use becomes mandatory.
Quiz on PMUY – Test Yourself
- What is PMUY?
- When and where did the launch of PMUY take place?
- What is the fund allocation of PMUY?
- What is “Give it up” campaign?
- Give the current rates of domestic non – subsidised LPG.
