Under the double engine government’s Ujjwala scheme, about 2.5 lakh houses in Varanasi got free LPG gas connections in eight and a half years. This gave women relief from stove smoke and improved health. So far Rs 39.88 crore has been spent on the scheme.
Varanasi. The double engine government is especially sensitive about the health and comfort of women. With the aim of protecting women from diseases caused by kitchen smoke, the government is providing free LPG gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme from the financial year 2016-17.
Ujjwala scheme makes women’s lives smoke free
Cooking on wood and coal stoves was harmful to women’s health. Through the Ujjwala scheme, the government is liberating women from the smoke emanating from the stove. In the last eight and a half years, the government has made the lives of women smoke free by providing gas connections to about 2.5 lakh houses in Varanasi district.
Gas connection data under Ujjwala scheme in Varanasi
District Supply Officer K.B. Singh said that a total of Rs 39.88 crore has been spent under the Ujjwala scheme in Varanasi district from the financial year 2016-17 to 2024-25. LPG cylinders, regulators and pipes have been provided free of cost to the beneficiaries along with gas connections.
Year wise LPG connections given under Ujjwala scheme
The gas connections given under the Ujjwala scheme in eight and a half years are as follows:
| Year | connection |
| 2016-17 | 53,888 |
| 2017-18 | 5,501 |
| 2018-19 | 84,804 |
| 2019-20 | 31,552 |
| 2020-21 | 279 |
| 2021-22 | 44,680 |
| 2022-23 | 10,862 |
| 2023-24 | 9,679 |
| 2024-25 | 8,014 |
Relief and health benefits to women from Ujjwala scheme
Ujjwala scheme has provided clean fuel to women, which has improved their health and also made kitchen work easier. This scheme is considered an important initiative of the government towards women empowerment and health security.