PM Modi to launch scheme for free LPG connections to poor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chosen Uttar Pradesh yet again to launch a Rs 8,000 crore scheme to give free cooking gas connection to poor women.

The scheme will be launched on May 1 from Ballia, 140 km form Modi’s parliamentary constituency Varanasi.

“Under the scheme, Rs 8,000 crore has been earmarked for providing 5 crore LPG connections to BPL households,” Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters. He gave an outline of the prime minister’s launch programme that seeks to provide 1.5 crore connections in the first year itself. The scheme will be implemented over the next three years.

The scheme will be called the “Pradhan



Mantri Ujjwala Yojana”. Modi will relaunch the scheme from his home state Gujarat on May 15.

The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation with the state governments and the Union Territories, Pradhan said. Money accruing from the surrendered subsidy will be used to provide new cooking gas connections to poor women free of cost.

Besides, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has in this year’s Budget provided Rs 2,000 crore for free LPG connections to 1.5 crore women belonging to BPL families.

Over 1 crore people have given up their LPG gas subsidy ever since the government announced the scheme last year.