The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) witnessed a significant increase in its distribution just prior to the 2019 general elections. As revealed by a Right To Information (RTI) plea, the scheme was intended to provide 8 crore Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections to underprivileged households by 2020. This target was met in August 2019, well in advance of the March 2020 deadline.
Introduction of the Second Phase: PMUY 2.0
In August 2021, the second phase of the scheme, known as Ujjwala 2.0 was launched by India’s Prime Minister. The focus of this scheme is to extend the benefits of the PMUY to migrants living in other states, who often encounter difficulties in providing proofs of address. Under the new scheme, beneficiaries will need only to provide self-declarations to receive these benefits.
Objectives of the Scheme
The prime objectives of the PMUY are the empowerment of women and the protection of their health, reducing the number of deaths in India caused by unclean cooking fuel, as well as preventing children from developing acute respiratory illnesses due to indoor air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
Key Features of PMUY
Under the Ujjwala scheme, financial support of Rs 1600 is provided for each LPG connection to households under the Below Poverty Line (BPL). Additionally, the scheme promises a deposit-free LPG connection, along with a free first refill and hotplate for the beneficiaries.
Targets and Expansion under the PMUY
During the Ujjwala 1.0 phase, the goal was to provide LPG connections to 50 million women from BPL households by March 2020. This phase also involved the inclusion of women from seven new categories, including Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and those under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Ujjwala 2.0 aims to deliver an additional 10 million LPG connections. Furthermore, the government has set a goal to supply piped gas to 21 lakh homes in 50 districts.
Nodal Ministry and Achievements
The scheme is managed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). Significant achievements include the provision of free cooking gas connections to 8 crore poor families, including those from Dalit and tribal communities. Additionally, over 11,000 new LPG distribution centers have been established across the country in the last six years.
Challenges and the Way Forward
Despite these achievements, the scheme faces challenges such as low refill consumption rates and system anomalies, including the issuance of connections to unintended beneficiaries. To effectively combat these challenges, the scheme should be extended to urban and semi-urban slum areas. Higher LPG coverage can be achieved by providing connections to households that lack them. Inputting Aadhaar numbers of all adult family members of both existing and new beneficiaries can result in more effective deduplication. Furthermore, software for distributors must be updated to prevent the issuance of benefits to ineligible recipients.
