In a bid to support underprivileged women and their families, the Yogi Adityanath government announced the provision of free LPG cylinders as a ‘Holi gift’. Under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, the government will distribute two free cylinders annually, with the first provided during Diwali and the second during Holi.
Budget Allocation and Distribution Progress
For the fiscal year 2023-24, the state government earmarked a budget of Rs 2,312 crore to furnish two free cylinder refills to approximately 1.75 crore beneficiaries. The distribution commenced in two phases, with 80.30 lakh beneficiaries receiving cylinder refills from November 1, 2023, to February 15, 2024, in the first phase. Subsequently, around 50.87 lakh beneficiaries have been served in the second phase from January 1, 2024, onwards. Notably, a total of 131.17 lakh cylinder refills have been disseminated under the scheme thus far.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s Initiative
Upon the scheme’s launch on November 10, 2023, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took the initiative to transfer the subsidy amount directly to the accounts of numerous Ujjwala beneficiaries. This move aims to streamline the distribution process and ensure efficient delivery of benefits to the intended recipients, underscoring the government’s commitment to promoting clean energy access and socioeconomic welfare.
