IMPHAL, Dec 30 - A total of 1,01,919 LPG connections have been distributed under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) Scheme in Manipur so far.
Under PMUY Scheme, LPG connections are given to women belonging to economically weaker sections at highly subsidised rate. The scheme has been expanded thereby taking many more classes of people within its scope, according to State level coordinator of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Imphal division, Sinam Ibungoton Singh.
Imphal West district has the maximum of 15,570 LPG connections, while Pherzawl has the least with just 120 LPG connections. The State reportedly has around 5.20 lakh LPG connections.
Churachandpur district has recorded 13,209 LPG connections under the scheme, as on December 26.
A reliable source claimed that 73 per cent of the total households in Manipur now have LPG connections after the introduction of the PMUY scheme. There are 5,07,152 households in the State as per census 2011.
The objective of the scheme is to provide women the right to clean energy, right to a life free from drudgery, smoke and ill health. PMUY was launched in May 2016 with the original target of covering 5 crore beneficiaries by end of financial year, 2017-2018, but in order to enhance the number of beneficiaries to eight crore, it has been extended by another two years.
Earlier, the State Government had identified 573 villages for LPG gas connection under the expanded PMUY under which the Government provides budgetary support of Rs 1,600 for every LPG connection given to eligible beneficiaries. By 2020 that will cover 1,94,282 households to convert these villages as first smokeless villages of the State which would help curb deforestation.
