Bhubaneswar: In the history of Independent India, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yozana (PMUY) will count as one of the most successful Central Government schemes. Launched on 1st May’2016 by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India at Bali U.P.
More than 6.5 crore LPG connections have been given countrywide to the economically poorer sections of the society by now. Odisha has seen phenomenal growth in LPG households – from 20 lakh in June’2014 to almost 78 lakh in February’2019. PMUY has contributed to this growth almost singlehandedly. PMUY was launched in Odisha on June 20th, 2016 at Sambalpur, Odisha. In its little over 2 and half years implementation in the state of Odisha, 39 lakhs PMUY connections have been given to poor women with nil security deposit, which accounts for 50% of the total LPG consumers (i.e. 78 lakhs). The overall LPG penetration in Odisha has gone upto 73% from a meager 20% in June’2014.Sustainability is the cornerstone of any successfully implemented scheme.
PMUY has successfully ushered in a clean kitchen fuel revolution in rural areas of the country and the state. The next logical step is to put in place a framework which shall lead to the desired effect in the socio-economic spheres of the beneficiaries on a long term basis.
In this regard, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have come up with the concept of Ujjwala Didis. Ujjwala Didis are rural women beneficiaries, identified from PMUY beneficiaries, who understand the rural socio-economic milieu pretty well. They understand the energy needs of the rural households . They analyse the deep impact the changing energy landscape can make in the day to day life of rural women and their household.
Ujjwala Didis will act as the bridge between existing & prospective LPG consumers and the distributors. Their positive intervention into the rural domestic energy ecosystem and distribution network help all in ease of booking for refill, issuance of new connections and sustainable use of energy.
More than 10,000 Ujjwala Didis have been identified who will act as grass root energy ambassadors all over Odisha. All these Didis are assembling tomorrow (23.02.2019) for an orientation programme which shall be addressed by Hon’ble Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship at 12:30 Hrs in the Railway Sports Compex Ground,Mancheswar, Bhubaneswar.
Comments are closed.