How is Maharashtra's Ujjwala Yojana Transforming Latur Women's Lives?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ujjwala Yojana promotes clean cooking fuel.
- Beneficiaries receive free LPG connections and stoves.
- Health benefits include reduced indoor air pollution.
- Financial subsidies ease the cost of cooking.
- Empowers women by improving their quality of life.
Latur, Sept 6 (NationPress) The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a social welfare initiative aligned with Prime Minister Modi's aim for a smoke-free rural India, significantly transforming the lives of women across the nation by substituting their smoke-filled cooking spaces with clean LPG gas.
In the Latur district of Maharashtra, the impact of the PMUY scheme is evident, especially among women at the grassroots level.
A few beneficiaries from Ausa village in Latur shared their experiences with IANS on how the initiative has made their domestic lives easier and more comfortable by supplying clean fuel for their kitchens.
Shobha Balkrishna Wade, a resident of Ausa city, recounted that she used to cook on a stove, but now she utilizes a gas cylinder for meal preparation, which has positively affected her respiratory health.
Shobha further expressed, “This has been incredibly beneficial for us. Previously, we struggled with smoke and had to venture into the forest for wood. However, after receiving a gas connection through the Ujjwala scheme, I now cook with LPG. This has truly changed my life for the better. Thank you, PM Modi!”
Another beneficiary, Jyoti Anand Wade, highlighted that the Ujjwala Yojana has instilled a sense of hope in the lives of women.
“Since we got the gas connection, we are now liberated from smoke. Working in the kitchen has become much more manageable. I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this,” she remarked.
The PMUY scheme offers beneficiaries a completely free LPG connection, which includes their first refill and a stove. Additionally, the program provides a targeted subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills annually (pro-rated for 5 kg connections), alleviating financial constraints and encouraging the adoption of clean cooking fuels.