New Delhi, June 10: The central government has announced a reduction in the number of subsidized LPG cylinders available under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) from nine to four annually. This decision, made by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, was prompted by reports of misuse by some beneficiaries.
In an interview with a news agency, Puri explained that the reduction was based on evidence suggesting that many beneficiaries did not require additional cylinders. He noted that some cylinders were being used for commercial purposes.
“Since this morning, there has been considerable discussion about our decision to cut the number of Ujjwala cylinders from nine to four. But if you do not need more than four cylinders, why would you need additional ones?” he stated.
Puri argued that if a family does not require more than four cylinders in a year, there is no valid reason to provide them with more subsidized refills.
He further revealed, “We took this step because we received reliable information indicating that many Ujjwala beneficiaries actually did not need the cylinders. They were either selling them for commercial use, using them elsewhere, or giving them away for a higher price.”
The government made this decision after analyzing how the scheme was being utilized and identifying cases of misuse. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched to provide clean cooking fuel to economically weaker families through LPG connections and subsidized refills.
During the conversation, Puri also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance model, suggesting that the opposition should understand and adopt the development-focused approach embraced by the Prime Minister.
According to the minister, voters have consistently supported the BJP under Modi’s leadership because they view the government as one that delivers on development and grassroots initiatives.
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