The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has cleared the proposal of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas to release deposit-free LPG connections to poor families, according to a PIB press release. These families had not been considered earlier under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)

Earlier only the candidates identified under socio-economic caste census (SECC) or seven identified categories i.e. SC/STs households, beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) (Gramin), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), Forest dwellers, Most Backward Classes (MBC), Tea and Ex-Tea Garden Tribes, people residing in Islands / river islands were eligible for getting a free LPG connection under Ujjwala Yojana.

The scheme is now being extended to all poor households.

"Considering several representations received from various quarters, poor families who could not get LPG connection under PMUY are now eligible to get a connection subject to fulfilling the eligibility norms and furnishing required documents," Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said after the CCEA meeting.

So far, more than 5.86 crore LPG connections have been released under PMUY against the target of 8 crore. Close to half (48 per cent) of the beneficiaries of the scheme are SC/STs. World Health Organisation (WHO) had earlier appreciated the PMUY as decisive intervention by the Government in addressing indoor household pollution.