On New Year’s Day, the state of Rajasthan brings good news for individuals below the poverty line (BPL) and those associated with the Ujjwala scheme by introducing a subsidy of 50 rupees on refilling kitchen gas cylinders.
This initiative by the Bhajan Lal government aims to reduce the cost of cylinders from 500 rupees to 450 rupees under the Kitchen Gas Cylinder Subsidy Scheme.
To avail of this subsidy, consumers must register at the ongoing camps organized in cities and villages under the Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra. The Food and Civil Supplies Department has issued orders specifying that every family falling under the Ujjwala and BPL categories will now receive a kitchen gas cylinder for 450 rupees per month.
Additionally, consumers who take delivery of two cylinders in one month will only receive a subsidy on one cylinder, with the subsidy amount credited to their bank account.
However, this move imposes an additional financial burden of 52 crore rupees per month on the state’s resources.
Currently, oil and gas companies sell a 14.2-kilogram kitchen gas cylinder at 906 rupees, with Ujjwala beneficiaries enjoying a discount of 300 rupees from the central government.
The state has approximately 70 lakh Ujjwala and BPL connection holders, comprising around 66 lakh Ujjwala beneficiaries and 4 lakh below the poverty line connection holders. After the central government’s subsidy of 300 rupees to Ujjwala connection holders, the state government will now provide a separate subsidy of 156 rupees. Currently, these connection holders refill around 30 lakh cylinders in the state every month.
