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In an unprecedented move for the  welfare of poor women particularly in rural areas, the Union Budget 2016 on  Monday allocated Rs 2000 Cr to provide LPG connections to 1.5 crore women  belonging to the below poverty line (BPL) families during the year 2016-17. The  LPG connection will be in the name of women member of the poor household. The  Scheme will be continued for at least two more years to cover a total of 5  crore BPL households. Terming the Budget announcement as historic, Dharmendra  Pradhan, Hon'ble Minister of State (I/C) Petroleum and Natural Gas said the Scheme Ujjwala will not only have  immense health benefits for the women and their children by providing a clean  cooking fuel, but also provide significant ecological dividends. According to  WHO estimates, about 5 lakh women die in India due to unclean cooking fuels.  Most of these premature deaths are due to non-communicable diseases such as  heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.

Mr. Pradhan conveyed his deep  gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Hon’ble Finance Minister for this  decision. He said that this is a wonderful Budget gift from Prime Minister to  the women, particularly in rural areas. This is the first time in the history  of the country that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas would implement a  welfare scheme benefitting crores of rural women. 

Christened as Ujjwala, the scheme provides a financial support of Rs 1600 for  each LPG connection to the BPL households. The identification of eligible BPL  families, as proposed in the Budget for 2016-17, will be made in consultation with  the State Governments and the Union Territories. While providing the new  connections to BPL households, priorities would be given to the uncovered  States and pockets, particularly in the Eastern region of the country. This  will be done in consonance with the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister for  development of Eastern India. 

Note to the Editor:

The  Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has already got many feathers in its cap  in providing LPG services. With 15.2 crore customers enrolled in Pahal, it is the  world’s largest cash transfer programme. The unique Giveitup programme has  already more than 75 lakh households to its credit, who have voluntarily given  up subsidy. The Year 2015 was the year in which new LPG connections were given  to 50 lakh rural households, the highest ever in India’s history.