• On review of the PMGKY-Ujjwala scheme, it was observed that a section of PMUY beneficiaries were yet to utilise the advance credited into their account

• Hence, the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas to extend the time-limit for availing the advance by three months

New Delhi: Ujjwala beneficiaries will now be able to avail free LPG refills for three more months under PMGKY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana) after the Union Cabinet accorded approval to the proposal on Wednesday. "The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for extension of time limit by three months wef 01.07.2020 for availing the benefits of 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana' for Ujjwala beneficiaries," an official statement released by the Petroleum Ministry said.

Many Ujjwala beneficiaries had not availed refills during 3-month period

On review of the PMGKY-Ujjwala scheme, it was observed that a section of PMUY beneficiaries were yet to utilise the advance credited into their account to purchase the cylinder refill within the scheme period. Hence, the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas to extend the time-limit for availing the advance by three months. "This will benefit those PMUY beneficiaries who have been credited with the advance for buying the cylinder, but have not been able to purchase the refill. Thus, the beneficiaries who already have the advance transferred to their account can now take the free refill delivery till 30th September," said the statement.

The backdrop

The government had announced a relief package 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana,' aimed at providing a safety net to the poor and vulnerable, who had been hit the hardest by the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. The package included relief for poor families who had availed of an LPG connection under PMUY. Under the PMGKY-Ujjwala, it was decided to provide free of cost refills for PMUY consumers for a period of three months, starting April 1.

Under the scheme, Rs 9,709.86 crore was transferred directly into the bank accounts of Ujjwala beneficiaries during April-June and 11.97 crore cylinders were delivered to them.

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