Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana 2024: Empowering Millions with Clean Energy Solutions

Launched on May 1, 2016 by the government of India the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a flagship scheme with primary objective of distributing LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) household. This initiative aims to replace the harmful practice of using traditional fuels with clean and sustainable cooking energy, while significantly improving the health and environment conditions in rural and underserved areas.

Why PMUY Was Needed?

India is home to a large population that, until recently, relied heavily on traditional fuels like firewood, cow dunk, and coal for cooking. These traditional fuels produced dangerous level of indoor air pollution, leading to respiratory illness, eye irritation, and premature  deaths particularly among women and children. Additionally, gathering firewood was a time-consuming task, predominantly performed by women, which also put them at risk of physical harm.

Recognizing the need for clear cooking solutions, the Government of India introduced the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a transformative initiative aimed at improving the health and lives of millions by providing access to clean cooking energy i.e. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

PMUY – Overview :

Name of the scheme	Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
When did it start	1 May 2016
Who started	Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Under whose Control	Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Central Government
Objective of the plan	To provide clean fuel to economically weaker families by providing free LPG connections.
Beneficiary	Women above 18 years of age from poor families
Relief fund	1600 rupees
Where did it start	From Ballia, Uttar Pradesh
Official Website	www.pmuy.gov.in
Toll free Number	18002666696

Key Objectives of PMUY :

PMUY was launched with a vision to address multiple issues related to health, environment conservation, and women empowerment. The primary objective of PMUY scheme includes :

• Reducing Indoor Air Pollution : PMUY aims to cut down on the harmful smoke produced by traditional fuels by promoting the use of LPG.
• Improving Quality of Life : The scheme directly benefits households by providing cleaner cooking methods, reducing time spent on firewood collection and improving health outcomes.
• Empowering Women : PMUY targets women in rural areas, providing them with autonomy over their household energy choices.

Who Benefits from PMUY?

To avail the benefit of PMUY scheme, a woman must belong to a BPL family and does not have LPG connection in her household. However, she must be included in the SECC 2011 list or under the seven identified categories namely prople residing in river islands, SC/ST households, Tea and Ex-Tea garden Tribes, PMAY (Gramin), Forest dwellers, AAY, and Most Backward Classes (MBC).

Eligibility Criteria for PMUY :

In order to avail the benefits of PMUY, you need to meet the following eligibility criteria :

• Should be an Indian Citizen
• Should be above 18 years of age
• The applicant must be a woman belonging to a BPL household
• The family should not already have an LPG connection
• Should not be availing any benefits under other similar schemes
• Beneficiaries should be included in the list of SECC 2011 or BPL households under SC/ST households, PMAY (Gramin), AAY, Most Backward Classes (MBC), forest dwellers, people residing in river islands or Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Tribes.
• The applicant must provide documents such as a BPL card, Aadhar card, and proof of residence.

This ensures that the program target those who need it most and provide them a means to adopt cleaner energy solution i.e. LPG.

Features of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana :

• Free LPG connections – Including the cost of the regulator and hose, eligible families receive a free LPG connection.
• Subsidized refill cost – To ensure the continued use of LPG, the government also offers subsidies for LPG refills.
• Financial assistance – Under PMUY, beneficiaries receive financial aid to cover the cost of the first LPG cylinder and the stove.

How Does PMUY Work?

The implementation of PMUY is carried out through Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) like Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum. Here’s a simplified step-by-step process :

• Application : Eligible women from BPL households can apply for the scheme through OMCs or authorized LPG distributors.
• Verification : The applicant’s documents are verified, and eligibility is confirmed.
• Connection Issuance : Once verified, the beneficiary receives an LPG connection along with financial assistance for the first refill and stove.
• Subsidy Delivery :  Beneficiaries are provided with a subsidy for subsequent LPG refills, ensuring the continued use of clean energy.

Related Post : Empowering Urban Dreams: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY-U) 2024

Documents Required :

• BPL certificate issued by the municipality chairman or panchayat pradhan
• Caste certificate
• One passport-sized photograph
• Photo identity proof
• Address Proof
• BPL ration card
• Aadhar numbers of all the members of the family
• Bank passbook or details of Jan Dhan bank account
• Duly signed 14-point declaration in the prescribed format.

How to Register and Apply for Ujjwala Yojana

Step 1 – Collect the application form from the nearest LPG distributor or download it from www.pmuy.gov.in

Step 2 – Fill up the Form

Step 3 – Submit the form at LPG distributors office

Step 4 – Once the application is submitted, it will be processed.

An LPG connection will be issued by various oil marketing companies once documents are verified and eligibility is checked.

KYC Application forms for PMUY Scheme :

You need to fill up the Ujjwala KYC form and submit it along with the necessary documents. You can download the Ujjwala KYC form from the official website.

How to check PMUY New List to avail free LPG?

You can check the free gas list by –

• Visiting www.pmuy.gov.in
• Click on the “New List” option
• You can download it and check your name in it

PMUY Helpline Number

The nationwide PMUY helpline number is 1800 266 6696 or 1906 (24×7 helpline number).

PM Ujjwala Yojana 2.0

Eligibility Criteria

• No other LPG connection from other OMC must be present in the house
• The applicant must be a woman who is above 18 years old
• Adult women who belong to the below-mentioned categories can apply :
  • SC/ST
  • Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)
  • Most Backward Classes (MBC)
  • Antyodaya Anna Yojana
  • Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Tribes
  • Forest Dwellers
  • Individuals that live in river islands and islands

Documents Required

• Supplementary KYC must be submitted in order to support the status of the family.
• Bank account number along with IFSC code.
• Aadhar Card of the beneficiary and family members.
• Ration card
• Aadhar card as proof of identity and address.
• KYU documents.

Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat

The “Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat” is an event taken place between the Prime Minister and the beneficiaries of the PMUY scheme to raise their concerns regarding the services of the scheme. As per a statement released by the Government, these meetings serve the purpose of establishing a deeper connection between the Government and the beneficiaries.