Government expands eligibility criteria to meet Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana target

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), one of the flagship schemes of the central government, is now being expanded to add more poor households in a bid meet 8 crore connection target by 2020. The government has so far added over 5.8 crore households under the PMUY in a span of over two years.

The scope of eligibility criteria has been expanded to all poor households even if they are not part of Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC) or the seven identified categories i.e. SC/STs households, beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) (Rural), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), forest dwellers, most backward classes (MBC), tea and ex-tea garden tribes, people residing in islands/river islands.

Poor households can now avail LPG connection under Ujjwala by providing ration card, bank account details, Aadhar number and self-declaration of being a below the poverty line (BPL).

The Ujjwala scheme was launched on May 1, 2016 to provide clean energy by providing LPG connections to poor households without having to pay a deposit.

A single LPG connection costs about Rs 3,200 and central government provides support of Rs 1,600. The balance Rs 1,600 is recovered upfront or in installment by Ujjwala beneficiaries.

Sources privy to the developments told CNBC-TV18 that ministry of petroleum & natural gas is pushing for 5 kg LPG cylinder to make it more affordable and accessible for the rural India.

Oil marketing companies (OMCs) have conducted over 21,000 camps to make Ujjwala beneficiaries aware about 5 kg cylinder availability.

In the last 2 months, over 1.05 new customers were added under Ujjwala because of 5 kg cylinder, even 1.4 lakh new consumers opted for refills, said people familiar with the matter.

According to multiple people familiar with the development suggested that government is actively looking to bring Whatsapp and missed call services to bring in ease of getting LPG connection and refill.

Also, OMCs are expected to float a tender for an agency to manage Whatsapp and missed call services. All India average for LPG refill is 7 cylinders per household and 4.3 refills under Ujjwala.