Lok Sabha Question No. 1752 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-01
Subject: LPG Connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Dr. Vinod Kumar Bind, Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1752 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 st  August, 2024

## LPG Connections under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

1752.   Dr. Vinod Kumar Bind:

Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi:

## पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether it is true that around 10 crore LPG connections have been disbursed under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana;
- (b) the strategies and endeavours that have been employed to augment LPG coverage in India through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana; and
- (c)  the manner in which this initiative has positively impacted the lives of rural households with a special focus on women and families residing in remote areas?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

## ANSWER पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğालय मɅ राÏयमंğी ( Įी सुरेश गोपी ) (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a):  Yes  Sir.  Pradhan  Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched on 01.05.2016 to release deposit free LPG connection in the name of adult woman member of poor households across the country. The primary objective of the PMUY is to provide access to clean cooking fuel LPG to such  poor  households  thereby  protecting  their  health  by  reducing  the  serious  health  hazards associated with use of conventional cooking fuel such as firewood, coal, cow dung etc. which cause severe indoor household air pollution. Use of LPG as cooking fuel frees women from the drudgery of collecting firewood, reduces time spent on cooking and prevents deforestation. As on 01.07.2024, 10.33 Crore PMUY connections have been released across the country.

(b) & (c):  In order to augment LPG coverage in the country various steps have been taken inter alia, including organizing campaigns for promotion of PMUY, organizing melas/camps to enroll and  distribute  connections,  promotion  through  Out  of  Home  (OOH)  hoardings,  radio  jingles, Information,  Education  and  Communication  (IEC)  Vans  etc.,  spreading  awareness  about advantages  of  using  LPG  over  other  conventional  fuels  and  safe  usage  of  LPG  through  LPG Panchayats,  enrolment/awareness  camps  under  Viksit  Bharat  Sankalp  Yatra,  facilitation  of consumers  and  their  families  for  Aadhar  enrolment  and  opening  of  bank  accounts  for  getting PMUY connections, simplification of process of getting LPG connection, online application for

PMUY connection  at  www.pmuy.gov.in,  nearest  LPG  distributors,  Common  Service  Centres (CSC) etc., option of 5 Kg Double Bottle Connection (DBC), swap option from 14.2 Kg to 5 Kg, provision for Migrant Families to avail new connection on Self-Declaration instead of Proof of Address and  Ration  Card.  Further,  OMCs  are  continuously  commissioning  new  LPG Distributorships,  especially  in  rural  areas.  Since  the  launch  of  PMUY  scheme,  OMCs  have commissioned  7905  Distributorships  across  the  country,  out  of  which  7325  (i.e.  93  %)  are catering  to  rural  areas  (commissioned  during  01.04.2016  to  30.06.2024).  As  a  result  of  these efforts, the per capita consumption for PMUY beneficiaries has improved to 3.95 refills per year. Further, LPG coverage in the country has improved from 62% in April 2016 to near saturation now.

Independent studies and reports have shown that PMUY scheme has had a significant positive impact on the lives of rural households, especially women and families in rural and remote areas. Some key benefits are briefly explained below: (i)  PMUY had resulted in a shift from  traditional cooking methods that involve burning solid fuels  like  wood,  dung  and  crop  residues.  The  use  of  cleaner  fuel  lowers  indoor  air  pollution, leading  to  improved  respiratory  health,  particularly  among  women  and  children  who  are traditionally more exposed to household smoke. (ii)  Households  in  rural  areas,  especially  those  in  remote  locations,  often  spend  a  significant portion  of  their  time  and  energy  in  collecting  traditional  cooking  fuels.  LPG  has  reduced drudgery  and  the  time  spent  on  cooking  by  women  of  poor  households.  The  free  time,  thus, available with them can be utilized in multiple spheres for enhanced economic productivity. (iii) Transition from biomass and traditional fuels to LPG reduces the dependency on wood and other  biomass  for  cooking  purposes,  leading  to  a  decrease  in  deforestation  and  environmental degradation. This benefits not only the households but also contributes to broader environmental conservation efforts. (iv)  The  use  of  LPG  for  cooking  reduces  the  risk  of  accidents  related  to  open  fires,  which  is particularly  important  for  the  safety  of  women  and  children.  Accidental  burns  and  injuries associated  with  traditional  cooking  methods  are  minimized,  contributing  to  a  safer  household environment.

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