Lok Sabha Question No. 2020 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Status of PMUY in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shri Malaiyarasan D

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2020 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 th  July, 2025

## Status of PMUY in Tamil Nadu

2020. Shri Malaiyarasan D:

## पेᮝोिलयम एवं ᮧाकृ ितक गैस मंᮢी

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

- (a) the current status of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in terms of the total number of LPG connections released, beneficiaries covered and geographic reach across Tamil Nadu;
- (b)  the  number  of  beneficiaries  who  have  actively  refilled  LPG  cylinders  after  receiving connections  and  the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  sustained  usage  of  clean cooking fuel among low-income households;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any assessment on the impact of PMUY on reducing indoor air pollution and improving health outcomes in rural and tribal areas and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  measures  being  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  address  challenges  such  as  refill affordability, supply chain issues and awareness gaps among beneficiaries to increase effective utilization of the yojana?

## ANSWER पेᮝोिलयम एवं ᮧाकृ ितक गैस मंᮢालय मᱶ रा᭔यमंᮢी ( ᮰ी सुरेश गोपी )

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

- (a): Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in May, 2016 with an objective to provide deposit free LPG connection to adult woman from poor households across the country. As on 01.07.2025, there are 10.33 crore PMUY connections across the country including 40.98 lakh connections in state of Tamil Nadu. District-wise details of PMUY connections in Tamil Nadu are at Annexure- A.

(b): In Tamil Nadu, 99.50% of total PMUY customers have taken refills after installation of their connections, as of 01.07.2025.

(c):  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.

(d): LPG  consumption  of  PMUY  beneficiaries is monitored regularly through  PPAC's Consumption  reports,  Common  LPG  Data  Platform  (CLDP)  and  meetings  with  OMCs. Consumption  of  domestic  LPG  by  households  depends  on  several  factors  like  food  habits, household size, cooking habits, tradition, flavor, taste, preferences, price, availability of alternate fuels etc.

To create awareness and enhance LPG usage, various steps have been taken inter alia, including organizing campaigns, 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  Aadhaar enrolment and opening of bank accounts for getting PMUY connections. Government has taken several  steps  to  encourage  consumption  of  LPG  by  PMUY  beneficiaries,  which  include deferment of loan recovery from subsidy amount, Swap option from 14.2 kg to 5 Kg to reduce upfront cash outgo, option of 5 Kg Double Bottle Connection, Conducting Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat to convince the beneficiaries to use LPG on sustained basis, mass awareness camps etc. As a result of these efforts, 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 4.47 in FY 2024-25.

Further, to make LPG more affordable to PMUY consumers, Government is providing a targeted subsidy of Rs. 300 per 14.2 kg cylinders.  LPG consumption by PMUY households in the Tamil Nadu has increased from 217.52 Thousand Metric Tonnes (TMT) (FY 2022-23) to 279.9 TMT (FY  2024-25).  Also,  per  capita  consumption  of  PMUY  beneficiaries  in  Tamil  Nadu  has increased from 4.28 (FY- 2022-23) to 4.81 (FY- 2024-25).

As of 01.07.2025, there are a total of 25,573 LPG distributorships across the country, including which  1652  in  state  of  Tamil  Nadu.  These  are  served  through  213  LPG  bottling  plant  of  Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) located across the country. In order to improve access of LPG in rural and remote areas, OMCs have commissioned 7997 distributorships, during 01.04.2016 to 30.06.2025  across  the  country,  out  of  which  7403  (i.e.  93  %)  [Rurban-  1033,  Gramin-  4991, Durgam Kshetriya Vitraks and Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitrak (DKV+RGGLV) - 1379] are catering to rural areas.

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Annexure referred to in part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2020 to be answered on 31.07.2025 regarding 'Status of PMUY in Tamil Nadu' asked by Shri Malaiyarasan D.

District-wise details of connections under PMUY Scheme in Tamil Nadu As on 01.07.2025

| District        | Number of PMUY Connections   |
|-----------------|------------------------------|
| Ariyalur        | 72,184                       |
| Chengalpattu    | 1,22,872                     |
| Chennai         | 32,730                       |
| Coimbatore      | 46,793                       |
| Cuddalore       | 2,54,010                     |
| Dharmapuri      | 1,13,164                     |
| Dindigul        | 1,48,070                     |
| Erode           | 1,16,599                     |
| Kallakurichi    | 92,640                       |
| Kancheepuram    | 67,988                       |
| Kanniyakumari   | 88,714                       |
| Karur           | 54,129                       |
| Krishnagiri     | 1,21,558                     |
| Madurai         | 1,60,043                     |
| Mayiladuthurai  | 67,675                       |
| Nagapattinam    | 49,595                       |
| Namakkal        | 1,27,689                     |
| Perambalur      | 44,611                       |
| Pudukkottai     | 1,73,264                     |
| Ramanathapuram  | 1,49,922                     |
| Ranipet         | 99,870                       |
| Salem           | 2,02,207                     |
| Sivaganga       | 89,670                       |
| Tenkasi         | 86,469                       |
| Thanjavur       | 1,38,037                     |
| The Nilgiris    | 18,331                       |
| Theni           | 67,449                       |
| Thiruvallur     | 1,20,331                     |
| Thiruvarur      | 1,14,755                     |
| Thoothukkudi    | 1,02,088                     |
| Tiruchirappalli | 1,51,817                     |
| Tirunelveli     | 72,404                       |
| Tirupathur      | 75,070                       |
| Tiruppur        | 54,946                       |
| Tiruvannamalai  | 2,15,330                     |
| Vellore         | 1,22,433                     |
| Viluppuram      | 1,42,873                     |
| Virudhunagar    | 1,19,895                     |

Source: IOCL on behalf of PSU OMCs