As the vibrant festival of Holi draws near, the Uttar Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has unveiled a special scheme to provide free LPG cylinders to eligible households as part of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. With just a decade left before the festival, approximately 1.75 crore beneficiaries across the state are poised to reap the benefits of this welfare initiative.
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, aims to empower economically disadvantaged women by facilitating access to clean cooking fuel. Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive two free gas cylinder refills annually, thereby promoting cleaner and healthier cooking practices. The government has allocated a substantial budget of Rs 2,312 crore for the fiscal year 2023-24 to support the implementation of this scheme in Uttar Pradesh.
To avail themselves of the benefits, beneficiaries are required to link their bank accounts with Aadhaar, ensuring transparent and efficient delivery of subsidies. Since its inception, the Ujjwala Yojana has made significant strides in enhancing energy access for marginalized communities in Uttar Pradesh, with over 1.31 crore gas cylinders distributed to date.
The distribution process has been carried out in two phases, with 80.30 lakh beneficiaries receiving refills between November 1 and February 15. Subsequently, an additional 50.87 lakh women have been benefiting from the ongoing second phase, which commenced on January 1.
In tandem with the state government’s proactive measures, Prime Minister Modi recently announced a reduction of Rs 100 in the price of LPG cylinders, providing further relief to households grappling with economic challenges. This reduction, implemented ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, reflects the government’s commitment to easing the financial burden on citizens.
With the revised prices, the 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder is now available at Rs 803 in Delhi, Rs 802.50 in Mumbai, Rs 818.50 in Chennai, and Rs 829 in Kolkata, offering much-needed respite to consumers across the country.
