AKIPRESS.COM - Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which aims to provide fifty million LPG connections to women in Below Poverty Line (BPL) households over the next three financial years, at a cost of Rs. 80 billion, says The Hindu.

The scheme, launched at Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, is to be partially funded from the savings accruing to the government from LPG users who gave up their subsidy as part of the Give It Up program.

“Over 10 million consumers have given up their subsidy, leading to savings of nearly Rs. 200 million per year. This money would be utilized to provide LPG connections to BPL families,” Modi said at the launch function.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had, in his budget speech in February, announced a provision of Rs. 200 million this financial year to provide LPG connections to 15 million women from BPL households.

The new users who receive LPG connections under the scheme will not have to pay the security deposit, while the Rs. 1,600 administrative costs, cost of pressure regulator booklet and safety hose will be borne by the government. Consumers will have the option to purchase gas stove and refills on EMI.

The Prime Minister said nearly 10,000 new distributorships and infrastructure expansion plans were in the works to cater to the increased demand arising out of the new connections.

Currently, India has 166.4 million active LPG consumers with a requirement of about 21 million tonnes per annum.

Stating that LPG coverage is being increased, he said there are serious health hazards associated with cooking based on fossil fuels.

Providing LPG connections to BPL households will ensure universal coverage of cooking gas in the country and this will empower women and protect their health, he said.