Ujjwala Yojana

Ujwala Yojana, also known as Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), is an Indian government scheme launched on May 1, 2016. The objective of the scheme is to provide clean cooking fuel to households that rely on traditional fuels like firewood, coal, cow dung, or kerosene for cooking.

The Ujwala Yojana aims to safeguard the health of women and children by reducing indoor air pollution caused by traditional cooking methods. It also seeks to empower women by reducing their time spent on collecting firewood and enabling them to pursue other productive activities.

Under the scheme, eligible households from below-poverty-line (BPL) families are provided with a subsidized LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) connection. The scheme targets about 8 crore (80 million) BPL households over a period of three years. The government provides financial assistance to the beneficiaries for the upfront cost of the LPG connection, which includes the security deposit for the cylinder and pressure regulator, installation charges, and administrative charges.

The Ujwala Yojana also includes a loan facility for meeting the cost of the stove and the first refill. The loan amount is adjusted against the subsidy that the beneficiary is eligible for on subsequent refills.

The scheme has been implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in collaboration with oil marketing companies like Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL).

Since its launch, the Ujwala Yojana has made significant progress in providing clean cooking fuel to households across India. It has contributed to a reduction in the use of traditional fuels and has improved the overall health and well-being of beneficiaries, particularly women and children, by minimizing their exposure to indoor air pollution.