Key Takeaways
- The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana subsidy per cylinder increased to Rs 300, lowering beneficiary cost to Rs 603.
- Anurag Thakur announced the change on October 4, linking it to the Raksha Bandhan celebration.
- Opposition parties labelled the hike a political move ahead of state elections, while the government cites affordability for women beneficiaries.
On Wednesday, October 4, Union Minister Anurag Thakur announced that the subsidy for the beneficiary women, who got cooking gas connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, has been increased. With this, the beneficiaries will have to pay Rs 603 for every 14.2 KG cylinder from now on. Earlier, the amount to be paid was Rs 703.
Hence, the subsidy per cylinder has been increased from Rs 200 to Rs 300, making the cost Rs 603, against the market price of Rs 903. Anurag Thakur said, ‘On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, reduction of Rs 200 was announced, which led to LPG rates coming down to Rs 900 from Rs 1100. Today, a new announcement is being made in which the beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojana will now get Rs 300 subsidy instead of Rs 200.’
Post the announcement, the Opposition attacked the BJP, alleging that this increase in the subsidy is a political gimmick. The Congress accused the BJP of hiking the subsidy on cooking gas for the beneficiaries of the Ujjwala Scheme in view of the upcoming state elections. It further claimed that the BJP will once again increase the prices, after it is ‘decimated’ in the elections.
