Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

Question: Recently the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Under the scheme how much amount has been earmarked?
(a) Rs 6000 crore
(b) Rs 8000 crore
(c) Rs 5000 crore
(d) Rs 9000 crore
Ans (b)
Related facts:

  • On 10 March 2016 the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – Scheme for Providing Free LPG connections to Women from BPL Households.
  • Under the scheme, Rs 8000 crore has been earmarked for providing five crore LPG connections to BPL households.
  • The Scheme provides a financial support of Rs 1600 for each LPG connection to the BPL households.
  • This Scheme would be implemented over three years, namely, the FY 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.
  • This is the first time in the history of the country that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas would implement a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households.
  • It has been found that there are serious health hazards associated with cooking based on fossil fuels.
  • According to WHO estimates, about 5 lakh deaths in India alone due to unclean cooking fuels.
  • According to experts, having an open fire in the kitchen is like burning 400 cigarettes an hour.
  • In this direction, Finance Minister in Budget speech on 29.2.2016 had announced a budgetary provision of Rs. 2000 crore for 2016-17 to provide deposit free LPG connections to 1.5 crore women belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
  • Further, the Budget announced that the Scheme will be continued for two more years to cover 5 crore households.

Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=137647
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/hindirelease.aspx?relid=46565
http://pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/cabinet-approves-pradhan-mantri-ujjwala-yojana-scheme-for-providing-free-lpg-connections-to-women-from-bpl-households/?comment=disable
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/pradhan-mantri-ujwala-yojana-cabinet-gives-green-light-to-rs-8000-crore-rural-lpg-scheme/articleshow/51340616.cms