It has doubled during this period. The number of active gas connections in April, 2014 was 14.52 crore.
According to official data, the sharp increase in LPG connections is due to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). Its coverage was only 62 per cent in 2016, which has increased to 104.1 per cent in 2022. Earlier one had to wait for 7-24 days for LPG cylinder. It is now available on demand and refills in 24 hours.
Earlier there was only 14.2 kg cylinder. But now oil marketing companies are also offering 5 kg cylinders as some customers prefer smaller cylinders due to less usage. PMUY was launched on May 1, 2016. Under this, free gas connections are given to the poor.
Recently got 200 rupees subsidy
A total of 9.58 crore gas connections were given under PMUY till January 30, 2023. On March 24, 2023, the Union Cabinet approved a subsidy of Rs 200 on 14.2 kg cylinders to PMUY customers. This subsidy is available on 12 cylinders in a year. No deposit is required in this scheme. Gas stove is also given free of cost with the first LPG refill. In nine years, the price of LPG cylinder has increased almost two and a half times to reach the level of Rs 1,100.
Target increased due to more applications
Initially, a target was set to provide this connection to 5 crore women below the poverty line. Later it was increased to a target of 8 crore women. However, Ujjwala-2.0 was launched on August 10, 2021 and then targeted to provide one crore more gas connections.
This target was met on January 31, 2022. On receiving more applications, the government has once again set a target of increasing the scheme to 60 lakh more connections. The per capita gas consumption under PMUY which was 3.01 refills in 2019-20 has increased to 3.66 refills in 2021-22.
With the implementation of PMUY, about one lakh people also got employment in the LPG distribution system.
Free LPG refill to 14 crores in Corona
At the beginning of Corona, more than 14 crore free LPG refills have been given under PMUY under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package. In this Uttar Pradesh, P. Women of Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh have been benefited the most.