Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

What is Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)?

The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to protect women’s and children’s health by giving them with a safe cooking fuel – LPG – so that they don’t have to risk their health in smoky kitchens or risk their lives collecting firewood in dangerous places. 

The government announced “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana” on 01.05.2016 to give deposit-free LPG connections to 5 crore women living below the poverty line (BPL), which has now been increased to 8 crore, in order to supply clean cooking fuel to all poor households, particularly in rural regions. In addition to the SECC list, other criteria have been added to the identification of potential beneficiaries under PMUY. To meet the new target, the scheme will now cover all SC/ST households who are beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), Antyoday Anna Yojana (AAY), Forest dwellers, Most Backward Classes (MBC), Tea & Ex-Tea Garden Tribes, and people who live on islands or river islands without access to LPG.

The connections would be granted in the names of the women of the households to ensure women’s empowerment, particularly in rural India. The plan would be implemented with a budget of Rs. 8000 crore. The BPL families will be identified using data from the Socio Economic Caste Census.

Over the next three years, PMUY is expected to generate an extra 1 lakh jobs and a business opportunity worth at least Rs. 10,000 crore for Indian industry. Because all producers of cylinders, gas stoves, regulators, and gas pipe are local, the launch of this scheme will give a big boost to the ‘Make in India’ campaign.

Features of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

• The LPG connection is released in the name of an adult woman from the BPL family, subject to the requirement that no other family members have an LPG connection.
• The Scheme provides cash help up to Rs. 1600/- for the installation of a new LPG connection, with the Central Government providing this cash support.
• The customer is responsible for the cost of the hot plate as well as the first refill purchase. Customers can get a Hot plate with the purchase of the first refill or both on a zero-interest loan, which is repaid with the subsidy obtained by the beneficiary. For the first six refills, there is no loan recovery.

Beneficiaries under PMUY

Any adult woman who belongs to any of the following categories is eligible for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). The release of the benefit of LPG will be in the name of the applicant belonging to the BPL family.

• SC Households
• ST Households
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)
• Most Backward Classes
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
• Tea and Ex- Tea Garden tribes
• Forest Dwellers
• People residing in Islands and River Islands
• SECC Households (AHL TIN)
• Poor Household as per 14-point declaration
• Applicant must be 18 years of age or more
• No existing LPG connections in the same household

How to Apply for PM Ujjwala Yojana?

You can follow the below procedure for registering to receive benefits under the PMUY scheme:

• Step 1: Collect an application form from your local LPG distributor or download one at official website
• Step 2: Complete the form.
• Step 3: Return the signed form to the LPG distributor’s office.
• Step 4: The application will be processed when it has been submitted. Various oil marketing corporations will issue an LPG connection after verifying paperwork and determining eligibility.

Process of Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

1. A woman from a BPL family who does not have access to LPG can apply to the LPG distributor for a new LPG connection.
2. While submitting the application form, the woman will submit the required details 
3.  The LPG Field officials will cross-reference the application with the SECC – 2011 database and, after determining their BPL status, enter the information (name, address, etc.) into a dedicated OMC Web portal using a login/password provided by the OMCs. The OMCs will conduct an electronic de-duplication exercise and other due diligence measures for a new LPG connection.
4. The OMC will issue the connection to the qualifying beneficiaries (after completion of various stages above).
5. While the government would cover the connection fees, the OMCs would offer the new customer the option of taking out EMIs to cover the cost of a cooking stove and the first refill. The EMI amount may be deducted from the consumer’s subsidy on each refill by the OMCs; if the state government, a non-profit organization, or a person desires to contribute toward the cost of a stove and/or initial refill, they may do so in consultation with the OMCs. However, this would fall under the PMUY umbrella, and no other Scheme name or tagline would be permitted without the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas’ specific agreement (MoP&NG).
6. Melas will be held at various sites by OMCs to release connections to BPL households. This will take place in the presence of local government officials and prominent citizens.
7. Depending on the field conditions, the scheme will serve BPL families under all forms of distributorship and for all sizes of cylinders (such as 14.2 kg, 5 kilogram, etc.).

What Documents can be Submitted as a Proof of Address and Identity?

• Only the applicant’s Aadhaar card will be accepted as proof of identity (POI) in all states except Assam and Meghalaya.
• If the applicant’s present address matches her Aadhaar, this might also be used as Proof of Address (POA).
• If the applicant’s address differs from that on her Aadhaar card, she can provide any of the additional documents indicated in Annexure – A for a POA.
• In the states of Assam and Meghalaya, where Aadhaar is not required, applicants can produce any other form of identification listed in the table below.
• Migrants can provide any of the 25 documents listed below under the list of PoA, including the self-declaration form in Annexure – I.
• Self-declaration form as per Annexure – I will not be considered for Non-Migrants.
• Ration Card issued by the State from which application is being made/ other State Govt. document certifying family composition/ Self-Declaration as per Annexure I (for migrant applicants)

How to Apply for LPG Connection Under Ujjwala 2.0?

Both online and offline applications are accepted.

• Online – Customers can enroll by filling out an online application, or they can contact their nearest CSC Centre to do so.
• Customers can enroll offline by submitting an application directly to the distributorship.

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