J&K leads way with 75% implementation

PMUY

JAMMU: In a major achievement, the Jammu and Kashmir has achieved a target of 75 per cent, more than any other state in the country, in the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a Centrally-sponsored scheme aimed at safeguarding the health of women and children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel LPG.
Out of 4.90 lakh total eligible applicants, the state government has provided free LPG gas connections to 3.70 lakh BPL households in the state, thus covering more than three-fourth of the beneficiaries. This was informed by Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali at a function in Rajouri district today.
The minister on the occasion said that the state is proud to take lead over rest of the states in the country in implementation of scheme.
While deliberating on PMUY, the minister said the scheme was launched with a declared aim to safeguard the health of women and children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel LPG, so that they do not have to compromise on their health in smoky kitchens or wander in unsafe areas for collecting firewood.
"The government is endeavouring to zero down the dependence on firewood, coal and dung-cakes as primary source of cooking fuel because smoke from burning such fuels causes alarming household pollution and adversely affect the health of women and children causing several respiratory diseases and disorders," he said.
He said the cent-percent implementation of scheme would not only save many precious lives of females and children but relieve them from the drudgery of collecting firewood.
The minister also informed the detailed implementation of the scheme in district Rajouri.
"In district Rajouri, free gas connections are provided to 22597 of total 25000 identified households. A supplementary list of left out BPL households shall be provided by the district administration for coverage under the scheme," the Minister said.
While advising the beneficiaries to take utmost precautions and safety measures in utilizing gas for cooking purposes the minister also informed that in case of any mishap there is inbuilt insurance cover of 6 lakh for death, 2 lakh for house damage and medical claim up to 30 lakh for treatment of injuries.
Earlier, the Minister distributed as many as 510 free gas connections at koteranka among the females from BPL households, along with sets of chulha, cylinder, gas pipe, regulator and safety manual.
DDC Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, ADDC A S Chib, SSP Yougal Manhas, Dy. Legal Controller Manoj Prabhakar, ExEn PHE Nisar Khan, ExEn PDD Munshi Khan, Tehsildar Mohammad Rafiq, BDO Imtiaz Ahmad, AD FCS & CA Javaid Iqbal besides other officers of sub-divisional administration were present on the occasion