Jharkhand while scoring a rare first has rolled out the Prime Minister Ujjawala Scheme aimed to cover 27 lakh poor families with free lPG connection. The State in order to implement the scheme initiated by the Centre has taken a lead by writing off the beneficiary’s share.
The scheme would be taken up in three phases that would include 8.4 lakh families each in the first two years and remaining 11.2 lakh in the last year. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after coming to power and aims to cover five crore families across the country. Taking the stride in that direction, the State, which has given just 17 lakh lPG connections so far, would target 27 lakh BPl families alone in the stipulated timeframe.
Opening the scheme on Wednesday in the State, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan lauded the feat of the State Government and termed it a trend-setter for the rest of the country.
“Percentage of lPG coverage is dismal in the State and even capital Ranchi has 62 per cent where as national average is 65. Districts like Jamtara and Pakur have 10 per cent coverage. But now, the State has set an example by providing even the subsidised share coming to the poor families which would surely be replicated by rest of the country,” said Pradhan. As many as seven families were given free lPG connection that comes with hotplate, hose pipe, regulator and one filled cylinder.
He said the scheme when launched was expected to cost `3,200 and after providing the Centre’s share the family would have to spend `1,600. “It would have been difficult for Jharkhand and when I asked the Chief Minister why is not implementing the scheme in his State he told me to wait. Now I understand why he was doing that. He made a perfect plan for the people of the State and the step would ensure safer, healthier and better cooking environment,” added Pradhan.
The Minister also reiterated other plans for the State that include revival of Sindri fertilizer plant, 2,500 kms long Haldia-Allahabad gas pipeline passing through the State, piped domestic lPG supply and extraction of coal bed methane from the coal reserves in the State.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das termed the initiative a perfect example of team work. “It is very important for the State and the Centre to work in tandem. When it happens, schemes like this reach to the people. It is away from running shops in the name of vote politics which has happened for last so many years,” said the CM.
This apart, the State also rolled out DBT in kerosene in four districts — Chatra, Hazaribagh, Jamtara and Khunti. The districts selected for the first phase have over 96 per cent Aadhaar seeding which is a prerequisite for the direct cash transfer. The programme was also a first in the country that would benefit 7.5 families.
Minister of Food and Civil Supplies Saryu Roy pointed out that subsidy amount Rs 10.54 for every litre of kerosene would be deposited directly to the beneficiaries’ back accounts. “We have taken several measures and expected to save over Rs 700 crore which would leak otherwise. The plan is ready for implementing it in seven other districts by next month and by the end of this financial year the entire State would be covered,” said the Minister.
He also added that ration distribution through biometric system would start in 17 districts on November 15 whereas the Department was also working in the direction of infusing DBT system also in food grain distribution to stop pilferage.