Uttar Pradesh govt likely to provide free LPG cylinders to Ujjwala beneficiaries on Diwali :Reports

The Uttar Pradesh government is likely to provide one free LPG cylinder before Diwali next month women beneficiaries of Ujjwala scheme. The Food and Logistics Department of the state government has transferred a proposal in this behalf to cabinet for approval. The department has also proposed to provide a free cylinder on Holi festival.

This decision of the government will directly benefit 1.75 crore poor women of the state. Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra held a meeting with departmental officials on the proposal related to this scheme and gave necessary guidelines.

BJP announced free cylinders during elections.
As per the reports, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) in its public welfare resolution letter released on the occasion of last assembly elections, had announced to give free LPG cylinders to the women beneficiaries of Ujjwala scheme on Holi and Diwali.

Last year, a provision of Rs 3,301.74 crore was made in the budget to provide free LPG cylinders to Ujjwala beneficiaries on Holi and Diwali.

However, the government could not do this last financial year. Rs 3,047 crore has been allocated for this in the budget of the current financial year also. In the state, Indian Oil Corporation has 84,54,560 LPG connections under Ujjwala scheme, Bharat Petroleum has 51,69,773 and Hindustan Petroleum has 38,80,054 LPG connections.