Ujjwala Yojana: Objectives, Features & Impact on Rural India
Why in News: The Union government just announced a price cut of Rs 200 per cylinder for all users, and the beneficiaries of the government’s Ujjwala Yojana will now get an even larger price cut of Rs 400 per cylinder.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG) initiated the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY) in May 2016. This flagship initiative was to provide clean cooking fuel (LPG) to rural and below-poverty-line households. The Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi on 1 May 2016 at Ballia, Uttar Pradesh formally launched the scheme..
In this article, we will discuss the Ujjwala Yojana, its objectives, features, benefits, as well as the challenges of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
What is Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)?
The Ujjwala Yojana Scheme champions the line “Swachh Indhan, Behtar Jeevan.”. Under the Ujjwala scheme, 5 crore families, mainly women from rural areas below the poverty line, were provided with affordable LPG connections by 2019. It significantly helped to promote a smoke-free environment.
The Ujjwala Yojana aims to increase the usage of LPG, while working on health effects, the effects of air pollution, and deforestation issues. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas executes the Ujjwala Yojana.
1. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) Objectives and Features
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) provides clean cooking fuel (LPG or liquefied petroleum gas) to households below the poverty line, with the intent to lower the health risks of traditional cooking methods using wood and coal (specifically for women and children). Below are some of the Ujjwala Yojana benefits and impacts:
a. Health benefit: Lowering health risks presented by indoor air pollution from traditional cooking fuels.
b. Women’s benefit: Clean cooking fuel reduces the time spent on firewood. Furthermore, it leads to the convenience and improvement of women’s health. Further, it adds dignity and lowers health risks for women.
c. Environmental benefit: Promoting the use of cleaner fuels (LPG) reduces deforestation and carbon emissions.
2. Implementation of Ujjwala Yojana
The PMUY scheme was launched through LPG distributors across India with a focus on below-poverty-line households. The Ujjwala scheme government initiative, involved extensive awareness generation campaigns, registration of beneficiaries, and issuance of LPG connections. Further, it also involves the allocation/counter-allocation of subsidized cylinders.
- A woman from a BPL household can apply for a new LPG connection to the LPG distributor.
- The application should contain KYC information, details from a ration card, Aadhaar details, and bank account details.
- LPG field officials will validate the application using the SECC-2011 database. Accordingly, it will issue the connection to eligible beneficiaries
- The government will cover all connection charges; however, OMCs will offer the option for new consumers to opt for EMIs for the cost of a cooking stove and the first refill.
- OMCs will also hold Melas in different locations at different times, following the release of connections to BPL families.
- The scheme will cover all BPL families, irrespective of the scenario of all distributorships and for any cylinder sizes.
3. Ujjwala Yojana Beneficiary List
Alongside the SECC list, further categories of individuals have been added. Further, it will identify eligible beneficiaries under Ujjwala Yojana. To fulfil the enhanced target, the scheme will now include the following categories of beneficiaries:
- The poor household in the online recognition of the poor household (14-point declaration)
- The applicant is 18 years of age
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)
- Most Backwards Classes
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
- Tribes in Tea and Ex-Tea Garden
- SC Households
- ST Households
- The citizens living on the Islands and the River Islands
- SECC Households (AHL TIN)
- Forest Dwellers
- There will not be any other LPG connections in their household.
- The LPG connection under this scheme will be given in the name of the woman from the BPL family.
What are the Benefits of the Ujjwala Scheme Government Initiative?
Ujjwala Yojana benefits and impacts are multi-dimensional, including enhanced public health by reducing indoor pollution and respiratory illnesses, especially for women and children. Coupled to empower women, it also aims to eliminate the trouble of cooking with traditional fuels. In addition, it allows women to engage in other productive activities.
1. Ujjwala Yojana has empowered women and also safeguarded them and their families, preventing many acute respiratory illnesses and other ailments as a result of using clean-burning fuel.
2. Women who spend time in forests and makeshift areas to collect firewood are sometimes subject to health and safety risks and, on some occasions, sexual harassment. But this scheme has reduced the risk.
3. According to research, some studies of “solid biomass” fuel users revealed that users frequently experience headaches, nausea, chronic bronchitis, and skin diseases. Particularly, most of the (the majority) rural women experienced indoor air pollution and acute respiratory illnesses.
4. Stopping the use of firewood has an obvious benefit to forest cover and the environment.
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will also have rural youth working in the cooking gas supply chain. Useful jobs in logistics and maintenance services are a bonus.
5. An LPG connection issued under this Ujjwala Scheme will be issued in the name of a woman from a BPL family. Further, it will also add a subsidy in the woman’s account.
6. Also, using LPG means that women save time as they do not have to collect and cook solid fuel.
7. Moreover, in some villages, women formed self-help groups in their spare time to undertake various community economic activities.
What are the Challenges Faced by the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana?
PMUY had positive effects but faced challenges like last-mile connectivity to remote communities, affordability of LPG refills, and behaviour change from traditional cooking to LPG. Below are some of the challenges faced by the Ujjwala Yojana:
1. The initial challenge was identifying poor households due to a lack of reliable data for the PMUY program. Although SECC-2011 data was used, researchers realised that many deserving households were missed only after conducting fieldwork.
2. There was also misuse of SECC data, including several affluent households being included as BPL households. This later brought difficulty in validating the legitimacy of the SECC database.
3. Beneficiaries required more awareness about safety protocols for cooking on an LPG stove, especially those who came from less wealthy and illiterate backgrounds.
4. Many households lacked what was necessary (ration cards and Aadhaar cards), which were needed to allow for their inclusion in the scheme.
5. The extent of LPG distribution posed issues in some areas regarding the establishment of distributorships, either because of or classified as forest or law and order, i.e. unrest in the area.
6. Households in these areas did not gain access to the scheme. Thus, they were unable to secure cleaner fuel for their cooking.
Ujjwala Yojana 2.0
In addition, PMUY Ujjwala 2.0 is a continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which began in 2016. The purpose of Ujjwala 2.0 is to provide LPG connections to additional households, specifically in rural and economically disadvantaged areas.
- In the Union Budget for 2021-22, provision for an additional 1 crore LPG connections was announced under Ujjwala 2.0.
- Also, there are special provisions for migrant families.
- No ration card or address proof is required from migrants. A self-declaration for family declaration and proof of address is sufficient.
- As of March 1, 2023, cumulative connections released under PMUY were 9.59 crore.
- The number of active domestic LPG consumers has increased from 14.52 crore in April 2014 to 31.4 crore as of March 2023.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Ujjwala Yojana has transformed the lives of millions by providing clean cooking fuel to the people of India. Further, it has improved women’s health, empowered them socially, and reduced environmental pollution. This government initiative proves that targeted social welfare can build a healthier and fairer India.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: The Ujjawala scheme, started in 2007, addresses the trafficking of women and children by focusing on prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation.
A: Rs. 1600 for a 14.2kg cylinder connection or Rs. 1150 for a 5kg cylinder. PMUY beneficiaries receive their first LPG refill and a stove, all at no cost with a deposit-free connection.
A: In nine years, the scheme has transformed millions of lives in India. As of 01.03.2025, there are 10.33 crore PMUY connections, with 8.99 crore connections released by 01.04.