Lok Sabha Question No. 4032 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: LPG coverage under PMUY
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Dr. Kadiyam Kavya

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4032 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 DECEMBER, 2024

## LPG coverage under PMUY

4032.   Dr. Kadiyam Kavya:

## पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğी

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

(a) the strategies and endeavours employed to augment LPG coverage in the country under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY); and

(b) the manner in which this initiative has positively impacted the lives of rural households, particularly women of the families residing in remote areas ?

ANSWER

## पेĚोͧलयम एवं Ĥाक ृ Ǔतक गैस मंğालय मɅ राÏयमंğी ( Įी सुरेश गोपी )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI SURESH GOPI)

(a)  &  (b):    Pradhan  Mantri  Ujjwala  Yojana  (PMUY)  was  launched  in  May,  2016  with  an objective to provide deposit free LPG connection to adult women from poor households across the country. As on 01.12.2024, there are more than 10.33 crore LPG connections released under PMUY scheme.

In order to improve access to LPG across the country, various steps have been taken, including organizing campaigns for improving awareness about 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. Since the launch of

PMUY  scheme,  OMCs  have  commissioned  7944  Distributorships  (commissioned  during 01.04.2016 to 31.10.2024) across the country, out of which 7361 (i.e. 93 %) are catering to rural areas.

Further, from financial year 2023-24, the expenditure born by Government on Security Deposit (SD) of Cylinder, Pressure Regulator,  Suraksha Hose, DGCC booklet and installation charges has  been  increased  to  Rs.  2,200  per  connection  for  14.2  Kg  Single  Bottle  Connection/  5  Kg Double Bottle Connection & Rs. 1,300 per connection for 5 Kg Single Bottle Connection.

To  make  LPG  more  affordable  to  PMUY  consumers  and  ensure  sustained  usage  of  LPG  by them, Government started a targeted subsidy of Rs. 200 per 14.2 Kg LPG cylinder for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries for upto 12 refills a year in May, 2022. Moreover, in October,  2023,  Government  increased  the  targeted  subsidy  to  Rs.  300  per  14.2  Kg  LPG cylinder for all Pradhan Mantri UjjwalaYojana (PMUY) beneficiaries. With a targeted subsidy of Rs. 300 per cylinder (and proportionately prorated for 5 Kg cylinder), effective cost for PMUY consumers is Rs. 503 per 14.2 Kg cylinder (at Delhi) currently.

As  a  result  of  various  steps  taken  by  Government  to  improve  access  and  affordability  of domestic LPG for PMUY consumers, per capita consumption of PMUY beneficiaries (in terms of no. of 14.2 kg LPG cylinders taken per year) has increased from 3.68 (FY 2021-22) to 3.95 in FY 2023-24, and 4.34 in FY 2024-25 (upto October 2024).PMUY consumption has witnessed a growth of 24.3% during October 2024 vis-à-vis October 2023 (Total PMUY consumption has risen from 459 TMT to 570.7 TMT during this period).

Various 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) With improved cooking facilities, there is a potential positive impact on nutrition. Families may find it easier to cook a variety of nutritious meals, contributing to better overall health.

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