The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a major Diwali gift for beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said eligible families across the state will receive one free LPG cylinder refill each on the occasions of Diwali and Holi. The decision is expected to benefit around 1.89 crore families enrolled under the scheme.
The announcement was made on Tuesday during a programme organised for the distribution of LPG refill subsidies to Ujjwala beneficiaries. The state government has allocated ₹1,500 crore for providing the subsidy to eligible households.
Addressing the gathering, Adityanath explained the financial assistance available to beneficiaries and how much they need to pay for a domestic LPG cylinder. According to the Chief Minister, the current price of a domestic LPG cylinder is ₹983.45. The Central Government provides a subsidy of ₹335, bringing the effective cost for consumers to ₹648.55.
Under the new arrangement, eligible Ujjwala beneficiaries will receive one free cylinder refill during Diwali and another during Holi. This means that qualifying families will get two free LPG refills annually, helping them manage household expenses during two major festivals.
Adityanath said the initiative was aimed at reducing the financial burden on poor families and ensuring that they could celebrate festivals without worrying about the cost of cooking fuel. He also suggested that the money saved through the benefit could be used to purchase sweets and lamps for Diwali celebrations.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the expansion of LPG connections under the present government. Taking a swipe at previous administrations, he claimed that obtaining a gas connection during the Congress era involved considerable difficulties. He said the government had worked to provide free LPG connections to economically weaker families and described the initiative as an example of good governance.
Meanwhile, Adityanath also spoke about the upcoming Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya, scheduled for November 7. He described the festival as a symbol of social harmony and unity, bringing together people from different communities and sections of society.
The Chief Minister said Deepotsav, which was started by the state government in 2017, had transformed Ayodhya's cultural heritage into a celebration involving people from all walks of life. He argued that shared cultural traditions could help strengthen social bonds and overcome divisions.
Adityanath is also scheduled to visit Ayodhya to review preparations for the grand celebration.
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