25 lakh additional free LPG connections approved under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

DIMAPUR — The Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, has approved 25 lakh additional free LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

This was informed by IOCL Chief Manager Amarjyoti Bordoloi and IOCL state-level coordinator Himakshi Saikia in the presence of Additional Director of Food and Civil Supplies T Anungba Sanglir during a press briefing at Niathu Resort in Chümoukedima on Wednesday.

IOCL officials informed that PMUY was launched in May 2016 with an objective to provide deposit-free LPG connections to adult women from poor households across the country and that 10.33 crore connections have been made under the scheme to date.

The approval for additional LPG connections under PMUY, according to the officials, was a reaffirmation of its commitment to providing clean, safe and affordable cooking fuel to women from economically weaker households, besides strengthening the government’s vision of women empowerment, improved health outcomes and reduced household drudgery through access to LPG.

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While no specific number of beneficiaries has been set for Nagaland, officials informed that it would solely depend on the responses received from the beneficiaries. They added that preference would be given to beneficiaries from rural areas.

Officials informed that adult women belonging to poor households who do not have an existing LPG connection in the name of any family member (as per family composition records) would be eligible for the scheme. Besides, eligibility would be based on a deprivation declaration, verified by the District Ujjwala Committee (DUC).

Documents required to avail the scheme are a KYC application form (available at all LPG distributorships) with passport-size photograph, proof of address, family composition document (ration card or other government-issued document), Aadhar card of the applicant and all adult family members as available in the family composition document, bank account details and deprivation declaration form (available at all LPG distributorships). Applicants can apply for the scheme by visiting any LPG distributorship or via online at pmuy.gov.in.

On completion of the procedures, selected applicants would receive a free LPG connection, including a deposit-free cylinder and pressure regulator, a Suraksha hose, a domestic gas consumer card (DGCC) and administrative charges. Apart from this, other marketing companies would provide an LPG stove and the first refill free of cost to all the beneficiaries who enrol under the extension.

Beneficiaries could opt for a 14.2 kg single bottle, a 5 kg single bottle or a 5 kg double bottle connection as per their requirement, it was informed.