Dharmendra Pradhan and Sonowal launch PMUY in Assam

The PMUY aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel – LPG, so that they don’t have to compromise with their health in smoky kitchens or wander in unsafe areas collecting firewood.

“The LPG connection will not only help the poor, but will also give them a life of dignity,” Sonowal said at the launch of PMUY adding that the Union Government and the Assam government’s primary focus has been the welfare of the poor.

The Assam CM said that there are many families in the country who are still deprived of LPG as cooking fuel and have to rely on firewood, coal, dung cakes etc. as primary source of cooking.

“The smoke from burning such fuels causes alarming household pollution and adversely affects the health of Women & children causing several respiratory disorders,” Sonowal said.

Sonowal further lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his vision which would relieve the women from the drudgery and help in conservation of nature.

He also appreciated the union government for their unconditional support to unleash an era of development in Assam and North East citing that more than Rs 7000 crore oil royalty has been released by Govt. of India during last 11 month.

Giving details about the developments which are taking place in Assam under the BJP lead coalition Government, Sonowal informed that the state has received around Rs 6300 crore investment in last eleven months which would provide direct and indirect employment to around 80,000 youth.

The Assam CM also said that under Prime Minister’s vision for ‘sabka saath – sabka vikas’, Assam is marching rapidly on the path of development and as a result of which, electrification of railway line and doubling of railway track, record number of projects for improvement of surface commencement have been initiated.

Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan while delivering his speech said that Govt. of India will provide 5 Cr LPG connections to BPL families in the country with a support of Rs 1600 per connection within March, 2019.

“Assam Government will also provide Rs 1000 per PMUY connection to the beneficiaries, which shall make LPG connection more affordable,” Pradhan said.

Stating that the launch of PMUY was delayed in Assam due to certain technical reasons, the Union Minister said that though Aadhar Card is a mandatory provision to avail the benefit of this scheme, this has been relaxed for the beneficiaries of Assam as per request of the Chief Minister.

“Identification of the BPL families for PMUY is done through Socio Economic Caste Census Data. In Assam, there are around 70 lac households, out of which 33 lac already have LPG connection. Around 90 percent of the families who still do not have LPG connection will be covered through PMUY and other Govt. schemes within March, 2019,” Pradhan said.

The Union Minister further informed that ONGC and other Oil companies will also carry out activities for beautification of historical towns like Dibrugarh, Sivasagar etc. OIL will invest Rs 25 crore for development of Kamakhya Temple, Pradhan said.

Reiterating the central government’s commitment, the Union Minister also said that the petroleum ministry has already taken up an exhaustive plan to develop North East at par with rest of the country under “2030: Vision Document (Petroleum Sector)”.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 1,  2016 in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. Over 2.20 Crore LPG connections have been given in 1st year of launch of this scheme. In order to ensure women’s empowerment, especially in rural India, the connections will be issued in the name of women of the households. Rs 8000 Crore has been allocated towards the implementation of the scheme.

PMUY is likely to result in an additional employment of around 1 Lakh and provide business opportunity of at least Rs 10,000 Crore to the Indian Industries.

Launch of this scheme will also provide a great boost to the ‘Make in India’ campaign as all the manufacturers of cylinders, gas stoves, regulators, and gas hose are domestic.

Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain, State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rihon Daimary and MP Rameswar Teli also spoke on the occasion.

MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, MLAs Prashanta Phukan, Binod Hazarika, Teros Gowala, Bimal Bora, Rituparna Baruah, Naren Sonowal, Chakradhar Gogoi, Sanjay Kishan, Suren Phukan and Bolin Chetia were also present amongst other in the programme.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)