ESSAY: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on 1 May 2016 to make availability of LPG cylinders to 50 million household women belonging to Below Poverty Line(BPL). The budget allocated for the scheme was 80 billion INR. After 1 year of launch, around 22 million connections were distributed against target distribution of 15 million in first year. In Oct 2017, almost 30 million connections were distributed, 44% of which were belonging from Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes. In December 2018, the number of connections crossed 58 millions. In 2018 Union Budget of India, it was decided to grow number of connections to 80 million households. 21,000 awareness camps were run by oil marketing companies.

The scheme led to increase in LPG consumption by 56% in 2019 as compare to 2014. State wise Uttar Pradesh was able to give 14.6 connections to BPL families followed by West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Indian household women used to work on 'chulhas' to make food. Fuels like animal's excreta, domestic waste, grass, wood is used to light fire in 'chulha'. These fuels result in generation of smoke, which can enter into body and cause harmful effect. LPG cylinders prevent women from such harmful effect. Now with LPG cylinders, people are not required to carry fuel from distant places. It also prevent deforestation. LPG cylinders are cleaner and greener, which do not cause pollution in environment.

On 8 July 2020, Cabinet approved the decision of government to provide 3 free cylinders to 7 crore 40 lakh poor women till September.
It is one of the key schemes to enhance conditions of living of poor families and women. It increases conditions for environment. It is helpful in providing cleaner and greener fuels to women belonging to BPL.