Good News for Women: Govt to Provide 75 Lakh New Cooking Connections, Apply Now to Avail Maximum Benefits

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, a highly popular initiative among women, is a flagship program of the Central Government. This scheme aims to provide women with access to clean cooking by offering free LPG connections. Additionally, it offers subsidies on LPG cylinders.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur announced that 75 lakh new gas connections will be provided under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana at no cost. This decision will expand the total number of beneficiaries to over 10 crore 35 lakh. Furthermore, specific eligibility criteria and conditions have been established for applicants to ensure that those who meet these requirements can readily avail themselves of the scheme's benefits.

About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, introduced by the Central Government on May 1, 2016, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is designed to offer subsidized LPG gas connections to economically disadvantaged women. Its primary aim is to equip women with clean, smokeless gas stoves for cooking, thus freeing them from the harmful effects of traditional stove smoke and contributing to reduced air pollution and deforestation.

Under this program, the government has pledged to provide 75 lakh new connections in the fiscal year 2023-24, extending the benefits to both urban and rural populations equally.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is responsible for the scheme's implementation. Currently, the country is in the midst of the second phase 2.0 of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, wherein the government provides subsidies to eligible beneficiaries.

Full Details to Obtain Free LPG Cylinder Under

Eligibility Criteria: Women falling below the poverty line (BPL category) are eligible for free cooking gas connections under this scheme.

Economic Subsidy: The government offers an economic subsidy of Rs 1600 for each gas connection.

Total Grant:

   - A total grant of Rs 3200 is provided to the gas agency for each connection.

   - This grant comprises Rs 1600 from the Central Government and an additional Rs 1600 contributed by the Petroleum Company.

Beneficiary Access: The gas agency receives a total of Rs 3200 per connection, facilitating the provision of free gas connections to eligible women beneficiaries.

Amount of Subsidy to be Offered Under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

Initial Free Cylinder: Upon receiving a free gas connection through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the first cylinder is provided at no cost to the beneficiary.

Subsidy on Subsequent Cylinders: Historically, the government has granted a subsidy of Rs 200 on subsequent cylinders for Ujjwala beneficiaries. As a result, beneficiaries obtain cylinders at a reduced price compared to regular ones.

Annual Subsidy for 12 Cylinders: The subsidy applies to a maximum of 12 cylinders annually. It is directly credited to the beneficiary's bank account.

Payment Process: Ujjwala beneficiaries are required to pay the full cylinder amount to the gas agency. Subsequently, the government transfers the subsidy amount to the beneficiary's bank account.

Total Benefit: So far, each Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala beneficiary has been receiving a total subsidy benefit of Rs 2400 over twelve months from the government.

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Eligibility Criteria

Female-Only Beneficiaries: Only female members within a family are eligible to avail the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

Family Head Eligibility: The scheme extends to the head of the family, even if there are multiple eligible women within the family.

One-Time Benefit: A family can benefit from this scheme only once.

Age Requirement: To apply for the Ujjwala Yojana, a woman must be at least 18 years old.

No Existing LPG Connection: Beneficiary families must not possess any other LPG connection from any gas agency.

Inclusive Beneficiaries: The scheme is accessible to economically disadvantaged families, including those from the general poor, SC, ST, and extremely backward class categories.

PMAY-Gramin and AAY Affiliation: Families associated with the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAY-Gramin) are eligible for this scheme. Beneficiaries of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) can also avail of its benefits.

Special Communities Included: People residing in tea and ex-tea plantation areas and forest dwellers are eligible beneficiaries.

Additional Eligibility Groups: The scheme extends its benefits to those listed under the Island and River Island categories, SECC families (AHL TIN), or any economically disadvantaged family as per the 14-point declaration.

Required Documents

The following are the documents required for the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Application:-

Aadhaar Card

Passport-Size Photograph

BPL Card

Ration Card

Bank Account Details

Age Certificate

BPL List Print

These documents are essential for a smooth application process under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, ensuring that eligible women can access the benefits of the scheme efficiently.

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Online Application Process

Access the Application Form:

   - The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas provides the application form for the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.

   - The form is available in both Hindi and English languages, allowing applicants to choose their preferred language.

Download the Form:

Download the application form in your chosen language according to your preference.

Complete Form and Attach Documents:

   - Fill in all required information on the application form.

   - Attach all necessary documents as specified.

Submission to Gas Agency:

 Submit the completed application form, along with the attached documents, to the designated gas agency.

Eligibility Verification:

   - The gas agency will review your submitted form.

   - If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be granted the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, including the provision of a free gas connection under the scheme.

Conclusion

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is a pivotal government initiative aimed at improving the lives of economically disadvantaged women by providing them with access to clean and affordable cooking gas. This scheme, with its specific eligibility criteria and required documentation, ensures that those who need it most can benefit from it. The online application process simplifies access to the program, offering greater convenience to applicants.

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