Clean cooking fuel to poor rural households

Staff Correspondent

Shillong, April 26: The office of the Deputy Commissioner (Supply), West Khasi Hills District, Nongstoin has informed to the general public, that the Government of India has launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yoja (PMUY) with an objective of providing clean cooking fuel to poor rural households. With the introduction of PMUY, the dependence on wood for cooking is expected to come down and it will vastly improve the health of women folk. LPG connections under this scheme will be released in the me of women belonging to the BPL family. For new LPG connection, cash assistance to the tune of Rs. 1600/- will be given which will cover the initial cost i.e. security deposit (Rs. 1250/-), regulator (Rs. 150/-), hose pipe (Rs. 150/-), administrative charges (Rs. 50/-), stove with 2 burners costing Rs. 999/- and 1st  cylinder refill costing Rs. 591/- (approx) will have to be borne by the beneficiary. EMI facility is also available.

In a short time, awareness camps will be organized in all parts of the District. In PMUY camp, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) will do Mass awareness about PMUY, share list of eligible beneficiaries, awareness on safe usage of LPG like placing the cylinder on a pedestal and having the stove above cylinder and educating the people about the insurance coverage and EMI facility under the PMUY scheme.

Women from BPL households, who does not have access to LPG connection, may apply for a new LPG connection (in prescribed format) to the LPG distributor in Nongstoin i.e. M/s Ailang Gas Agency. While submitting the application form, the beneficiary will have to submit details like address, bank account and Aadhar number (optiol) etc. Only those families whose mes are there in the SECC list will be considered. The connection shall be issued by the OMC to the eligible beneficiaries after completion of necessary field verification. It is also informed that the office of the Deputy Commissioner (supply) will be issuing only the application forms and not the LPG connection. Once the Ministry gives a go ahead for Meghalaya, then only the connections will be issued.