By Our Correspondent
DHENKANAL:The flagship scheme of Government of India Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), was launched at Garhpalasuni, Kankadahada Block, Dhenkanal district today by Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (I/C) for Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India. Among others dignitaries from leading Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies – Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum & Hindustan Petroleum Corporation were also present at the occasion.
Pritish Bharat, General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (MD) welcomed the guests and explained the details of the scheme. The central theme of this scheme is “ Swachh Indhan Sukhi Jivan” and the scheme envisions improvement of health of women by eliminating indoor air pollution. He also conveyed the modalities of the scheme including provision of loan facility for stove and first refill. He also emphasized that no additional expenses are to be made by beneficiaries for availing new LPG connections under PMUY scheme. He also called upon all to avoid middle men and directly contact distributors of OMCs to get connections under this scheme.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Pradhan told, “Around 1.13 crore LPG connections have been distributed under “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)” to poor people across the country and more than 5 lakh LPG connections have already been released in the State under Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana (PMUY) since its launch in the State of Odisha.
About 20 thousand new connections have been distributed under this scheme in Dhenkanal District and more than 7 thousand in Kankadahad block including 2000 connections under PMUY. Adding to that 1700 households are in Gadapalasuni Gram Panchayat out of 472 households are LPG connection and rest 1250 LPG connection will release . Describing the fact, he stated that in Odisha 25 households per 100 were having LPG connections in 2014 which is now fulfilled the target of 62 per 100.
Pradhan added that, this is the first time in the history of the country that the MoPNG is implementing a welfare scheme benefitting crores of women belonging to the poorest households. The PMUY will increase usage of LPG thus reducing health disorders due to usage of polluting conventional cooking fuels like wood, cow-dung, etc. It will reduce air pollution caused by smoke from solid fuel usage in kitchens and other places.
It will also ensure reduced deforestation as there will be no requirement for cutting down trees for firewood. Increased penetration of LPG will also generate employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas. Further speaking on this, Pradhan said, poor people have availed their right in the Modi regime’.On this occasion,Pradhan distributed 2000 LPG connections to the beneficiaries under implementation of PMUY scheme at Gadapalasuni, Kankadahada Block, Dhenkanal district.
Safety aspect in usage of LPG is of paramount importance and the general public needs to be educated regarding safe handling of LPG. During this program, a live demo of safe handling of LPG by Oil Industry experts was also shown for educating beneficiaries. Apart from this, video film on importance of conversion to cleaner fuels and safety aspects of handling of LPG was shown to the participants.
Among others, Pritish Bharat, General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (MD), G. Swaminathan, Chief LPG Manager, Indian Oil Corporation, Prakash Sahoo, Sr Area Manager, Bhubaneswar Area Office, Dharmendra Behura, Senior. Regional Manager (LPG), HPCL, Nishant Kumar, Territory Manager (LPG), BPCL, Rudra Narayana Pani, Ex-MP. Rajya Sabha, Kalandi Samal, State General Secretary, Bibhuti Pradhan, Dhenkanal District President, Prasanna Patanaik, Ex-MLA, Kamakshya Nagar, Rashbihari Behera, Sushant Dala Behera, Nirakar Pradhan, Pradeep Samal, Balabhadra Sahoo, Smt. Liza Biswal were present at the occasion.Voteof thanks given by Dharmendra Behura, Sr. Regional Manager (LPG), HPCL.
