New Delhi, Oct 23
Ujjwala scheme, one of the flagship schemes of the Modi government has brought a significant turnaround in the lives of rural women across the country.
Thousands of women are benefitting from smoke-free kitchens as gas cylinders provide a convenient method for cooking food while relieving them of harmful wooden smoke. Many women beneficiaries of the Ujjwala Yojana in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district shared their experiences with IANS, highlighting how this scheme has brought significant changes to their lives. Rural women in Dhanbad reported that they have eliminated smoke from conventional cooking fuels, including firewood and coal, thanks to the scheme. The food preparation process has also become simpler. Jyotsna Devi, a woman beneficiary, told IANS that previously, there was no gas cylinder in her house, which often delayed cooking. However, after receiving a gas cylinder under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, her entire family is now happy. She can cook food in less time, and the family has been relieved from smoke exposure. "I express my gratitude to PM Modi for the Ujjwala scheme, due to which a gas cylinder has arrived at our house today," she stated. Sweety Kumbhkar, another Ujjwala beneficiary, echoed similar sentiments and expressed her gratitude to the Modi government for easing their burdens. "Due to the gas cylinder, I am able to cook food in less time. This is a good scheme, whose benefits are being given directly to women from poor families. The smoke pollution has also been eliminated," she said. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched on May 1, 2016, to provide free LPG gas connections to below-the-poverty-line (BPL) families. As per the latest figures, more than ten crore free LPG connections have been issued under the scheme until September 2024. Beneficiaries are entitled to receive gas cylinders at subsidized rates.