The Ujjwala Yojana or the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) connection scheme is a social welfare initiative launched by the Government of India to provide Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as an alternate source of energy in homes that have no access to it. The scheme was launched in January 2016 and its target beneficiaries are the BPL families, women, scheduled caste, scheduled tribes, and other weaker sections of society.
Know More About Ujjwala Yojana
Ujjwala Yojana is the world’s largest LPG connection scheme. It aims to eradicate the practice of burning wood, cow dung and coal for cooking in the country’s rural areas by providing a free LPG connection to women belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. Ujjwala Yojana was conceptualized in May 2016 and was finally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2017. The scheme has been designed to provide 5 crores free LPG connections in three years. The scheme has been running successfully ever since its launch, with the number of connections crossing 2.6 crores in October 2018.
How to get Ujjwala Yojna LPG connection?
Ujjwala Yojana is the world’s largest LPG connection scheme. The scheme was conceptualized in May 2016 and was finally launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2017. The scheme has been designed to provide 5 crores free LPG connections in three years. The scheme’s target beneficiaries are the BPL families, women, scheduled caste, scheduled tribes, and other weaker sections of society. If you belong to a BPL family, you can apply for the LPG connection under Ujjwala Yojana. To apply for the scheme, you will have to visit the website of Indian Oil or Hindustan Petroleum and fill in the application form. You can also visit the nearby Indian Oil or HPCL fuel station to fill in the form and get the connection.
Benefits of Ujjwala Yojana for women
The Ujjwala Yojana provides free LPG connections to women belonging to BPL families. It also provides a free safety kit that includes a regulator and a hose. The scheme also provides an annual cash incentive of Rs 500 to the person who gets an LPG connection under it. The main benefits of the scheme are: –
- The Ujjwala Yojana will not only make the women of the BPL families self-dependent but it will also reduce the burden on the state-run health and family welfare programs.
- It will reduce the burden of labor on women by providing them with a cleaner alternative for cooking. • It will reduce indoor air pollution caused by the traditional fuel-based stoves that are used to cook food in most Indian households.
- The Ujjwala Yojana will eradicate the practice of burning wood, cow dung, and coal for cooking in the country’s rural areas.
Demerits of Ujjwala Yojana
Although the Ujjwala Yojana is a good scheme, it has some demerits as well. The scheme provides LPG connections to BPL women but does not provide any subsidies for the installation of the gas cylinder or the connection. Hence, people have to pay the entire amount from their pockets. The scheme also has a time frame after which you will be thrown out if you fail to get the LPG connection. The scheme also fails to provide any assistance for people who have applied for the LPG connection but have not received it till date. The scheme also fails to provide any reimbursement for the cost of the stove that is required along with the LPG connection.
Tips Before Enrolment in Ujjwala Scheme
The points to remember before applying for the Ujjwala Yojana are:
– You should be a BPL family to get the LPG connection under the Ujjwala Yojana.
– You should have valid government ID proof such as a voter ID card or an Aadhar card.
– You should have a gas connection within a distance of 500 meters from your house.
– You should have a power connection of at least 11 kilovolts within a distance of 100 meters from your house.
– You should be at least 18 years old to get the LPG connection.
The Ujjwala Yojana is a good scheme for those who have been waiting for a long time to get an LPG connection. If you are new to the country and have been staying here for less than five years, you will have to wait for at least five years for getting an LPG connection.
Conclusion
The Ujjwala Yojana is a good scheme for BPL families and women. It will not only make these women self-dependent but it will also reduce the burden on the state-run health and family welfare programs. It will also reduce the burden of labor on women by providing them with a cleaner alternative for cooking. The scheme has some demerits as well. The scheme provides LPG connections to BPL women but does not provide any subsidies for the installation of the gas cylinder or the connection. Hence, people have to pay the entire amount from their pockets. The scheme also has a time frame after which you will be thrown out if you fail to get the LPG connection.