In India, people are mostly dependent on LPG to cook their food. The concept of induction gas is still not accepted here and thus the government has decided to take this step. The central government also has a similar scheme by the name of Ujjwala and that is one of the reasons why the Anila Bhagya scheme faced a lot of controversies. People accused the government of running parallel scheme with the central government. Under the scheme, the government is planning to provide free LPG connections and free stove to the people who are eligible for the benefits. The Karnataka government launched a new subsidy to benefit the poor people, as many as 2.16 lakh families in the state have been selected for the Ujjwala scheme but are yet to be allotted the LPG connections.
Via How will the scheme work?
The scheme is being funded by the state government and it was declared and the scheme will not clash with the Ujjwala scheme as the scheme will be focused on providing benefits to people who are not covered under the Ujjwala scheme. The government also said that the aid granted by the central government will not be used in this case.
What is the Eligibility criteria for the scheme?
- The benefits of the scheme can only be obtained by the people who are not taking the benefits under Ujjwala scheme.
- In addition to this, the family has to be below the poverty line to take the advantage of the scheme.
- One family will get only one LPG connection and one gas stove. Different family members from the same family would not be given benefits.
- The applicant of the scheme should be the women.
What are the Rules pertaining to non-eligibility of the scheme?
Any person who is not covered in the points stated above is not eligible for the benefits of the scheme.
How to apply for the scheme?
The scheme was launched recently but no clear details about the application procedure are available. As per the last notification, the person would have to walk-in to the office of LPG service provider and she can obtain an application form for the same. The form then needs to be filled and submitted at the office. Once the form is submitted, the data will be verified against the national database of BPL. After the verification is complete, the benefits will be delivered.
What are the benefits of the scheme?
- Free LPG connection to the people who are not covered under Ujjwala scheme.
- Free stoves will also be distributed to the people who were left out in Ujjwala Scheme.
- Another benefit is that Rs 1920 will be subsidised and under the Ujjwala scheme, the government is only providing subsidy of Rs 1600
- As per an estimate, approximately 5 lakh families will get the benefit of this scheme.
- Using LPG is always a better option as using LPG doesn’t release harmful gasses as compared to traditional Chula cooking.
Who will back the plan?
The plan is being backed by the state government and as informed by the government, the aid provided by the central government is not being utilised here.
Is this the way forward for the nation?
The scheme will surely benefit a lot of people but in our opinion, the state government should work in synchronisation with the central government and the existing schemes should be modified to provide the maximum benefits. The scheme seems to be like running a competition between the state and central government whereas, the government should be working together to deliver the benefits to the people.