Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Lauds Financial Impact of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana on Rural Communities

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlights the cost-saving benefits of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). Ujjwala beneficiaries spend five rupees daily on cooking, compared to 12 rupees for non-beneficiaries. Puri asserts the scheme's success in rural areas and criticizes the opposition for politicizing LPG prices.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has emphasized the significant financial savings that beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) enjoy in their daily cooking expenses. Addressing the matter on social media platform 'X' on Tuesday, Puri revealed that households with Ujjwala connections spend as little as five rupees per day on cooking, compared to approximately 12 rupees for non-Ujjwala households.

Puri elaborated that Ujjwala beneficiaries receive LPG cylinders at a subsidized rate of 500 rupees, substantially lowering their cooking costs in contrast to other cooking mediums. The average daily expenditure for a family utilizing an Ujjwala LPG cylinder is slightly over five rupees, while non-beneficiaries spend around 12 rupees per day, he noted.

The minister further highlighted the profound impact of the Ujjwala Yojana in rural areas, where access to clean cooking fuel was previously limited. He pointed out that LPG connections in India increased from 14 crore in 2014 to over 33 crore in 2024, crediting the success of the Ujjwala scheme for this surge. Criticizing the opposition for politicizing LPG prices, Puri remarked that there were no LPG cylinders available during their tenure. He added that 80 per cent of Ujjwala beneficiaries are from rural areas, where traditional fuels like firewood and coal were predominantly used before the scheme's introduction.

(With inputs from agencies.)