Angul, Nov 1 : The flagship scheme of Government of India Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), was launched at Pallahara, Angul District on Monday by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India. Among others, dignitaries from leading Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies – Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum & Hindustan Petroleum Corporation were also present on the occasion.
Shri Pritish Bharat, General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (MD) welcomed the guests and explained the details of the scheme. The scheme lays emphasis on women of our country and is one among the many schemes launched by Government of India with a central theme of Sukhi Jiban Swast Jiban”. He also conveyed the details of loan scheme for refill and stove. Adding to this he said neither a middle man to be appointed nor any additional expenses are to be borne by the beneficiary under this scheme.
It may be noted here that, PMUY scheme was started nationally on 1st May 2016 and the state launch of the programme was done on 20th June’2016.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of State (I/c) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Shri Dharmendra Pradhan told, “Around 95 lakhs LPG connections have been distributed under “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)” to poor people of the country, including 5 lakhs in Odisha, 25 thousand in Angul District and 4 thousand in Pallahara Sub Division. Shri Pradhan added that, this is the first time in the history of the country that the MoPNG is implementing a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households. The PMUY will increase usage of LPG thus reducing health disorders due to usage of polluting conventional cooking fuels like wood, cow-dung, etc. It will reduce air pollution caused by smoke from solid fuel usage in kitchens and other places. It will also ensure reduced deforestation and cutting down trees for firewood. Providing LPG connections to BPL households will ensure universal penetration of cooking gas in the country. This measure will empower women and protect their health. It will reduce drudgery and the time spent on cooking. It will also provide employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas. Very soon 90 per cent of the poor people of the State will be benefitted by this scheme.
Further speaking on this, Shri Pradhan said, poor people have availed their right in the Modi regime’.
On this occasion, Shri Pradhan distributed 1500 LPG connections to the beneficiaries under implementation of PMUY scheme at Pallahara in Angul district.
During this program, a live demo of safe handling of LPG by Oil Industry experts was also shown for educating beneficiaries. Apart from this, video film on importance of conversion to cleaner fuels and safety aspects of handling of LPG was presented to the participants.
Source-PIB
