Ujjwala Plus to let people donate cooking gas connections for poor households

New Delhi: 'Ujjwala', one of the successful schemes by the incumbent BJP-NDA government in its three year's governance and this year it would indulge in both welfare of poor and in getting relief in income tax. In a 'Plus' size, the NaMo government is offering the festive offer, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan mentioned.

"Aiming of bringing smile on poor women's faces the 'Ujjwala Plus' will allow good Samaritans, and corporate to gift clean cooking fuel," the minister said.

'Ujjwala Plus' scheme would allow donors to donate cooking gas connections for poor households. They (donors) would be able to do by paying the cost of the number of Ujjwala LPG connections, they want to sponsor to a non-profit company floated by the oil ministry. Each connection costs Rs 1,600. Donors will get relief under Section 80G of tax norms.

"Ujjwala Plus will be launched before Diwali," oil minister added.

Ujjwala scheme was launched on May 1 to provide free LPG connection to 5 crore poor households in three years. However, the first year's target of 1.5 crore households in just eight months, and with total coverage currently touched the margin of nearly 3 crore households.

Till now, under the 'Ujjwala' scheme the state-run fuel retailers provide free connections to poor households with support from the government. But, now under the 'plus' scheme Ujjwala takes the next level with people's movement by giving a government welfare scheme.

The oil minister also derived the 'Plus' scheme as 'Give it Up' campaign, which saw over 1 crore households voluntarily surrendering subsidy in response to an appeal from the PM Modi.

Meanwhile, Pradhan would also launch 'LPG Panchayat' scheme in Ahmadabad on Saturday.

"We have 22.5 crore LPG consumers in the country. We have to raise this coverage. For this we need to create mass awareness about safety, affordability and health benefits of using LPG as a cooking fuel. LPG Panchayat will rope in women working at local self government bodies or in mass-based schemes such as Anganwadi and Choupals to do this," he said.