(HT)
The Centre’s Ujjwala scheme is likely to achieve this month the target of providing free cooking gas connections to 80 million poor households six months before the deadline set for them and its scope is likely to be expanded to cover more underprivileged families ahead of key assembly elections later this year, three officials aware of the development said. Ujjwala is among the welfare schemes widely seen to have contributed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s return to power at the Centre with a bigger majority in May.
“PMUY [Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana] is likely to achieve its target of 8 crore [80 million] connections this month [September] ahead of the March 2020 deadline. As on date [August 26], more than 7,96,81,650 [over 79.81 million] connections have been already provided under the scheme. In all likelihood, the scheme will soon be extended to cover more underprivileged households,” one of the officials cited above said on condition of anonymity. Assembly polls are due in Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand this year and the expanded scope of the scheme is likely to benefit the ruling BJP, the official added.
