Minister distributes free LPG connections at Lakhanpur

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 28

Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Lal Singh today said the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) would ensure empowerment and good health of women in BPL households enabling them to lead a smoke-free life.

The scheme also incorporates an LPG accident insurance cover of Rs 6 lakh for the consumer, he added.

The minister was speaking at a function at Ramleela ground Lakhanpur, Kathua, for distributing 150 LPG connections among BPL beneficiaries.

Lal Singh said the government was well versed with problems faced by women in the state, adding that several welfare schemes had been launched to improve their living standards.

The minister said according to a survey conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), every year a total of 5 lakh women die due to lung diseases caused by firewood smoke. He said the scheme was aimed at replacing the unclean and unhealthy traditional fuel with the clean and more efficient LPG.

Lal Singh said the PMUY would ensure that all beneficiaries who were not covered under the Socio Economic Survey would get covered under the scheme soon. He further said an insurance cover of Rs 6 lakh was also being provided in case of accident while using the LPG. Besides, compensation of Rs 25,000 would be provided to the injured in case of any such mishap. In case of loss of property damage, Rs 2 lakh would be provided to the victim as compensation.