New Delhi, Dec 5 (PTI) As many as four LPG cylinders arebought by about 60 per cent of the 3.2 crore poor women whowere given free cooking gas connection, Oil MinisterDharmendra Pradhan said today.
Since launch on May 1, 2016, more than 3.2 crore LPGconnections, each costing Rs 1,600, have been given to poorwomen under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). This ismore than half of the 5 crore free LPG connection targetsector for three years.
"We have studied the first year consumption pattern andhave found that about 60 per cent of the beneficiaries on anaverage bought four refills. This is a very encouraging trendand we hope the number will increase in future," he said here.
Debunking reports that most of the women who got free LPGconnections did not buy a refill, he said data suggestsbeneficiaries are buying LPG refills after exhausting thefirst bottle.
There however are pockets like tribal areas where therefill is nil as they have gone back to use of firewood.
Addressing inauguration of India chapter of 'Women inLPG' here, he said PMUY was launched to provide clean cookingfuel to about 10 crore households that used firewood, coal,dung-cakes and other polluting fuel.
The smoke from burning such fuels causes alarminghousehold pollution and adversely affects the health of womenand children causing several respiratory diseases/ disorders,he said.
As per a WHO report, smoke inhaled by women from uncleanfuel is equivalent to burning 400 cigarettes in an hour.
"PMUY aims to safeguard the health of women by providingthem with a clean cooking fuel – LPG, so that they do not haveto compromise their health in smoky kitchens or wander inunsafe areas collecting firewood," he said.
He said Rs 8,000 crore was allocated for the scheme.
Pradhan said 13-14 crore LPG connections were givenbetween 1955, when the fuel was launched in India, and 2014.
This number has swelled to 21.4 crore in last three years andall the households would have LPG in the next 2-4 years, hesaid.
India has over 25 crore households.
In 2013-14, India had 16.8 crore registered LPGcustomers, which has increased to 25.37 crore by end ofSeptember 2017. But not all of the registered are activeusers. As of September, 21.4 crore were active users out ofthe registered population. The active users were 14.85 crorein 2014-15. Data for active users in 2013-14 is unavailable.
"Today we have 77 per cent penetration of LPG. In 2-4years, it would be near total or cent per cent," Pradhan said.
To meet the rising demand, the government is expandingLPG infrastructure, setting up new bottling plants and raisingnumber of distributors to 25,000 from current 19,223 in twoyears, he said.
"In two years, we will have 25 crore LPG consumers," hesaid.
The minister said PMUY is likely to result in anadditional employment of around 1 lakh and provide businessopportunity of at least Rs 10,000 crore in businesses rangingfrom setting up of infrastructure to manufacture cylinders,gas stoves, regulators, and gas hose. PTI ANZANU.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.