Just days before the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls, the Centre on Friday announced a cut of Rs 100 in domestic cooking gas cylinders saying the reduction will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting “Nari Shakti” (women power). The announcement was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a token to mark the International Women’s Day.

This is second slashing of the LPG prices with the last on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan in 2023, a month before Assembly polls in five States including the Hindi heartland and the BJP was successful in maximum number of States. The price of a domestic LPG cooking gas will now be Rs 803 in Delhi, Rs 813 in Ahmedabad, Kolkata Rs 900, Mumbai Rs 802 and likewise a differential rate across the cities and States.

Modi said the reduction of Rs 100 in LPG cylinder prices will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting “Nari Shakti” (women power). “By making cooking gas more affordable, we also aim to support the well-being of families and ensure a healthier environment. This is in line with our commitment to empowering women and ensuring ‘Ease of Living’ for them,” the PM said in a social media post.

The PM also shared the delight to nominate philanthropist Sudha Murty to the Rajya Sabha, and counted upon how his Government’s numerous measures have empowered women.

Women have been at the centre of Modi’s outreach and he has often asserted that their support to him and the ruling BJP have played a significant role in the party’s successes.

In the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, expected to be held in April-May, the BJP has intensified its connect with them as it looks to score a bigger win and retain power for a third straight term under Modi.

Attending the first National Creators’ Award later, Modi urged content creators to increasingly make women a part of their work. He said the “collaboration of content and creativity grows engagement, collaboration of content and digital brings transformation, and collaboration of content with purpose shows impact”.

He urged the content creators to bring inspiration through their content and recalled that he had raised the issue of disrespect towards women from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Modi also requested them to forward the spirit of equality among parents while raising boys and girls.

He said the content creators should showcase the capabilities of “nari shakti” (women power) and gave ideas on depicting how a mother conducts her daily tasks and women from rural and tribal areas engage in economic activity. “Content creation can help rectify wrong perceptions,” he said.

“A home is the foundation of dignity. It’s where empowerment begins and dreams take flight. PM-AWAS Yojana has been a game-changer to further empowerment of women,” he said about a scheme under which crores of homes for the poor have been built, with more women than men getting the ownership.

The PM Svanidhi scheme, a micro-credit facility for street vendors, has brought happiness to the lives of the poorest workers, who include a large number of women, he said.

The “Lakhpati Didi” scheme, an initiative for financial empowerment of women associated with self-help groups, has become a big platform to empower them, he added in another post. Women associated with the group are a strong foundation for building a developed India, he said.

“NaMo Drone Didis are champions of innovation, suitability and self-reliance. Our Government is leveraging the power of drones to further women empowerment,” the Prime Minister said. The posts, made on International Women’s Day, were accompanied by short videos, highlighting the positive impact these schemes have made on women.

The Government’s move to cut LPG prices, described as a gift to the women, drew backlash from the Opposition, who questioned the timing of the announcement. NCP Member of Parliament Supriya Sule, of the Sharad Pawar faction, suggested that the Centre’s move could be a political ploy.

“I am not surprised at all. Look at the timing. They have been in power for the last 9 years. Why didn’t they think of this earlier? Just after the election, I mean it will probably be announced in the next 5 or 6 days, “yeh aur ek jumla hai”...In our Government, the cylinder was Rs 430. Why don’t they match it?” said Sule.