Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally launched the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) — Ujjwala 2.0 — by handing over virtually LPG connections to some beneficiaries in Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched with an objective to provide LPG connections to 5 crore women belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families over a period of three years starting from FY 2016-17. 

• The scheme was launched on May 1, 2016 in Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh. 

• Later, the government decided to increase the target from 5 crore to 8 crore to be achieved by FY 2019-20. 

• It further extended the benefit of PMUY to such poor families who have been left out on account of their names not appearing in either the SECC list or seven identified categories to cover all poor families of the country. 

• Under this scheme, the government provides deposit free LPG connection to the adult woman member of BPL family, which includes, security deposit towards cylinder and pressure regulator, Domestic Gas Consumer Card (DGCC Card), suraksha hose and administrative/installation charges. The government bears an expenditure up to Rs 1,600 for every new connection.  

• The target of releasing 8 crore LPG connections under PMUY scheme has been achieved on September 7, 2019, seven months in advance of the target date of March 31, 2020. 

Highlights of Ujjwala 2.0

• In the Union Budget for 2021-22, provision for an additional one crore LPG connection under the scheme was announced.

• These one crore additional connections under Ujjwala 2.0 aim to provide deposit-free LPG connections to those low-income families who could not be covered under the earlier phase of PMUY. 

• Along with a deposit-free LPG connection, Ujjwala 2.0 will provide first refill and hotplate (stove) free of cost to the beneficiaries. The enrolment procedure will require minimum paperwork. 

• In Ujjwala 2.0, migrants will not be required to submit ration cards or address proof, and a self-declaration will suffice.

Significance of this scheme

• The use of LPG cylinders has been predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas with the coverage mostly in middle-class and affluent households. 

• The availability of clean cooking fuel is a major challenge for rural households. This deprivation is predominantly suffered by women and children as they are the most exposed to harmful effects of smoke from burning unclean fuels in the households.

• According to WHO estimates, India records about 5 lakh deaths due to unclean cooking fuels. Most of these premature deaths were due to non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. Indoor air pollution is also responsible for a significant number of acute respiratory illnesses in young children. According to experts, having an open fire in the kitchen is like burning 400 cigarettes an hour.

• Providing LPG connections to BPL households will ensure universal coverage of cooking gas in the country. This measure will empower women and protect their health. It will reduce drudgery and the time spent on cooking. It will also provide employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas.

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