The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a national-level scheme stipulating the connection of cooking gas to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households. The scheme has been launched with an objective to provide a cleaner and more efficient fuel i.e. LPG for cooking purposes in place of conventional fuels like kerosene, coal, etc. to the BPL households across the country.
The mission of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), launched to provide 5 crore LPG connections to women from BPL households by 2019. By January 2019, 64 million LPG connections have been provided under the Ujjwala scheme, resulting in it being considered one of the most successful and effective social sector programmes in India.
The Government's flagship program, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) has not only reduced the burden of cooking on wood, coal, cow dung and other such traditional fuels but is also acting as a catalyst to promote learning through peer group interaction – Kuch Seekhein, Kuch Sikhayein.
Under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) launched in May 2016, a free LPG connection along with a 5-kg free cylinder was provided to 5 crore poor women beneficiaries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) appreciated the work done by the Government of India under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
Issue of refill and affordability: The LPG scheme has been successful in increasing access to clean fuel but the focus needs to be on converting this access to actual use. Several states in India have a large number of LPG connections but a low usage rate. This is because users are not able to pay the full cost of gas at the time of refill.
Behavioural Limitations: The entire scheme is predicated on the thought that LPG gas is clean and efficient and thus, there is no need to change one's cooking practices and habits. However, if we look into the reasons for the slow take up of the scheme, behavioral changes by providing information through extensive awareness campaigns seem to be a necessity.
Inactive and corrupt uses: The Government was paying subsidies to inactive and dead account holders, and their money was being used by others for commercial purposes. A few beneficiaries holding more than one card and the real beneficiaries were not aware of it.
Health: One should remember that it is this solid biomass cooking fuel that is the major source of indoor air pollution and acute respiratory illnesses in rural areas. Manipulative approaches to manipulate people to use LPG won't work. As a result, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will go a long way in reducing acute respiratory illness.
Women empowerment: Women empowerment is a lot more when it comes to the significant number of acute respiratory illnesses and other ailments and also safeguarding them and their families clean burning electric fuel. This scheme is particularly beneficial for women who have had to go through a tough time and work extra hard. The scheme has changed their lives for the better especially in remote towns and villages where previously women were dependent on firewood as the sole source of cooking fuel.
Safety: Women from the poor background were often exposed to the health and safety risks which they came across while going to the forests for collecting firewood. Wildlife around such places includes leopards and snakes, particularly in the outskirts. For getting rid of these issues, rural women have been provided with better LPG connections as a part of the social security scheme.
Economic empowerment: In a country where most women are dependent on solid fuels for cooking, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’s promise of providing LPG connections to all such BPL families is expected to contribute towards the economic empowerment and upliftment of women.
Environment: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) has been one of the most significant interventions implemented in India that has had a positive impact on the environment. The scheme has led to a reduction in forest deforestation. The scheme has enabled people to shift from fuelwood used for cooking purposes to LPG gas as a primary source of cooking. It has also reduced quantities of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.