Hit by rising prices, Ujjwala beneficiaries shun LPG

kram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 6

The rising prices of LPG refill have severely affected the beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Under the scheme, they were given stoves and cylinders free of cost.

Although the subsidy is deposited in the bank account of the beneficiaries, the latter are finding it hard to shell out increased money.

“The cost of a subsidised LPG refill is Rs 786. The subsidy is released later. Paying such a huge amount is difficult for us. Our monthly budget has been severely affected,” said Bhuri Ram, a farmer from remote Surechak village.

Banso Devi from Jhandi at Kathua district said they had again switched to earthen stove and the use of LPG cylinder was made only on special occasions.

“The LPG connection has become a burden on us. We are bound to go in for timely refill else the connection will be cut off,” she rued.

She said although the subsidy was released, but paying a huge amount at the time of refill was not feasible for them.

Balwan Singh, owner of a gas agency, said the yojana was not helping the poor in any way. The objective was to stop the use of firewood and traditional biomass fuel. However, the increasing prices of LPG has hit the common man hard.

According to the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, the number of LPG connections across India has increased by 16.26 per cent since the scheme was launched, but the use of gas cylinders has registered an increase of only 9.83 per cent. This is even lower than the rate recorded in 2014-15, when the scheme did not exist.