Politics

Subsidy of Rs 200 per cylinder for Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries

In a major relief to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries and to shield them from high LPG prices, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Friday approved a subsidy of 200 rupees per 14.2 kg cylinder for up to 12 refills per year. Briefing media in New Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said, the total expenditure on it in the financial year 2022-23 will be six thousand 100 crore rupees and in the financial year 2023-24 will be seven thousand 680 crore rupees. The beneficiaries of the scheme as of the 1st of march this year is 9.59 crores.

The subsidy is credited directly to the bank accounts of the eligible beneficiaries.  Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies namely Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited have already been providing this subsidy since the 22nd of May, 2022.

Mr Thakur said, there has been a sharp increase in international prices of LPG due to various geopolitical reasons.  It is important to shield PMUY beneficiaries from high LPG prices. He said, targeted support to PMUY consumers encourages them to continue usage of LPG.  It is important to ensure sustained LPG adoption and usage among PMUY consumers so that they can completely switch to cleaner cooking fuel.  The average LPG consumption of PMUY consumers has increased by 20 per cent from 3.01 refills in 2019-20 to 3.68 in 2021-22.  All PMUY beneficiaries are eligible for this targeted subsidy.

To make Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), a clean cooking fuel, available to rural and deprived poor households, Government launched Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in May 2016, to provide deposit-free LPG connections to adult women of poor households.

Mr Thakur said, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved Minimum Support Price for Raw Jute at Five thousand 50 rupees per quintal for the 2023-24 season, ensuring a return of 63.20 per cent over the all-India weighted average cost of production.

The approval is based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) The announced MSP of raw jute for the 2023-24 season is in line with the principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times all India's weighted average cost of production as announced by the Government in the Budget 2018-19. It assures a minimum of 50 per cent as the margin of profit. It is one of the important and progressive steps towards ensuring better remunerative returns to the jute growers and incentivesing quality jute fibre. The Jute Corporation of India will continue as Central Government Nodal Agency to undertake Price Support Operations and the losses incurred, if any, in such operations, will be fully reimbursed by the Central Government.

The Minister said, the Government today also approved the release of an additional installment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners, due from the 1st of January 2023. The additional instalment will represent an increase of 4 per cent over the existing rate of 38 per cent of the Basic Pay or Pension, to compensate for the price rise.  The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be 12 thousand 815.60 crore rupees per annum. Mr Thakur said, the move will benefit 47.58 lakh employees and 69.76 lakh pensioners. This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula which is based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

 

If you like this story then please support us by a contributing a small amount you are comfortable with.