Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs today said that state is proud to take lead over rest of the states in the country in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ujwala Yojana with 75 percent target achievement.He informed that out of 4.90 Lakh total eligible applicants, the government has provided free LPG gas connections to 3.70 lakh BPL households in the state.The Minister was speaking in a function organized by Indane Gas Agency Budhal for distribution of free gas connections at koteranka. As many as 510 gas connections were distributed. The females from BPL households were provided with sets of chulha, cylinder, gas pipe, regulator and safety manual.While deliberating on PMUY, the minister said the scheme was launched with a declared aim to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel – LPG, so that they don’t have to compromise their health in smoky kitchens or wander in unsafe areas for collecting firewood. He said the government is endeavoring to zero down the dependence on firewood, coal, dung-cakes etc as primary source of cooking fuel because smoke from burning such fuels causes alarming household pollution and adversely affects the health of Women & children causing several respiratory diseases/disorders.
Referring to a WHO report the minister expressed concerns that smoke inhaled by women from unclean fuel is equivalent to burning 400 cigarettes in an hour and causes death of 5 Lakh children and females across the country every year. He said the cent percent implementation of scheme will not only save many precious lives of females and children but relieve them from the drudgery of collecting firewood. “In district Rajouri, free gas connections are provided to 22597 of total 25000 identified households as per socio-economic census of 201. 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. 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.