Ninth Anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme (PMUY)

Concerning PMUY

Inaugurated: In 2016 by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Objective: To offer LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families to minimize health hazards linked to conventional cooking practices.

Target Audience: Adult females from BPL households, emphasizing women's empowerment and enhancing their quality of life.

Eligibility Requirements: Women belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households, with preference for SC, ST, PMAY (Gramin) families, forest residents, and tea plantation laborers. Migrant families can utilize self-declaration as evidence of address.

Phase I (2016-2020): By 2020, 8 crore LPG connections without deposits were given to women from below-poverty-line households.

Phase II (2021 onwards): By December 2022, an extra allocation of 1.6 crore LPG connections was granted under the PMUY scheme, including a specific provision for migrant households.

Achievements (As of March 1, 2025): The total count of active domestic LPG users in India is 32.94 crore, including 10.33 crore beneficiaries under PMUY.

Importance

Advantages for Health:

Enhanced Health: PMUY focuses on abolishing traditional cooking practices such as wood, coal, and crop residues, which contribute to indoor air pollution.

WHO Estimates: Approximately 500,000 deaths in India happen each year because of unclean cooking fuels.

Empowering Women:

Liberation from Firewood Gathering: PMUY enables women to save time on collecting firewood, frequently sourced from distant forests.

Enhanced Lifestyle: Clean fuel access conserves time and energy, enabling women to engage in productive activities.

Beneficios Socioeconómicos:

Enhanced Productivity: Women are liberated from strenuous cooking techniques, allowing them to participate in economic pursuits.

Resource Management: LPG connections are registered under women's names, enhancing their financial autonomy and authority in household decisions.

Advantages for the Environment:

Decreased Air Pollution: Utilizing cleaner cooking fuels lessens the harmful emissions linked to burning wood or kerosene.