MP Assembly Elections: What Are Ujjwala, Ladli Behna Yojanas Offering LPG Cylinders Subsidy Of Rs 450?

As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party battles its rival Congress to continue to take reigns of Madhya Pradesh, among many promises, the current ruling party has promised to provide Bharatiya Janata LPG cylinders at a subsidised rate of Rs 450. This benefit will be provided in two schemes Ujjwala Yojana and Ladli Behna Yojana. The election for 270 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh has commenced on Friday.

As per the main notification of the government, all customers under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Ladli Behna Yojana who have gas connections in their names will be eligible for a Rs 450 domestic gas rate. The scheme has come into effect from September 1, 2023.

Customers will receive a subsidy on their refill every month. The guidelines explained that customers will be required to buy refills from the oil company at the market rate. Meanwhile, any reduction in the subsidy that is provided by the government and market rate by the state government will be transferred to eligible customers' bank accounts. The government will bear the remaining cost of the LPG cylinders.

Here's what you need to know about Ladli Behna Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana:

Ladli Behna Yojana:

The scheme was launched in March this year, with the objective of improving women's health and nutrition and better economic self-reliance. The scheme was implemented to allow women to not only develop self-employment/livelihood resources using locally available resources with the financial assistance received but will also to be able to play an effective role in their decision-making at the family level.

Among the benefits is -- an amount of Rs.1000/- per month will be paid to each eligible woman in her eligibility period in her own Aadhaar linked DBT enabled bank account. Also, if a woman is below the age of 60 years and already receiving less than Rs. 1000/- per month under any other Social Security Pension Scheme, then that woman will be reimbursed up to Rs. 1000/-.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana:

This was launched in May 2016, to safeguard the health of women and the household from consumption of unhealthy fuels by providing them with clean cooking fuel in the form of LPG.

The scheme is designed to protect the health of women by curbing health issues that result from consuming fossil fuels and other fuels used for cooking. Moreover, it also reduces casualties that occur as a result of unclean fuels and controls respiratory issues due to the consumption of unhealthy fuels. Apart from furthering the health of women, this scheme also seeks to empower women in rural India by issuing connections under the name of the women in the household.

The Scheme provides financial support of Rs 1600 for each LPG connection to the BPL households. The administrative cost of Rs. 1600 per connection, which includes a cylinder, pressure regulator, booklet, safety hose, etc. would be borne by the Government.