Mangalajodi: Sunderpur, Mangalajodi, Tangi Block, 05.05.2018: As part of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan being observed from 14th April – 5th May 2018 under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) through its PSU Oil Marketing Companies, Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat was held today at Mangalajodi in Tangi Block of Khorda district by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL). Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India attends the LPG Panchayat as Chief Guest of the occasion. The programme was organised with an intention to promote the use of LPG amongst the rural consumers and safe and sustained use of LPG through peer group interactions on a large scale.
Addressing the occasion, Union Minister Shri Pradhan told that, “LPG penetration in the State of Odisha has reached to 58.55 % by 1st May 2018 than that of 20% in June 2014 and the Government of India has set a target of providing gas connections to 80.0 lac household by the end of December 2018”.
Shri Pradhan also added that, as of now total 24.23 lacs connections released under Prime Minister Ujjwala Yojna and last year 177 new LPG distributors have been added to the list which comes around 775 of total LPG distributors as on 1st May 2018 and additional 225 nos. are being planned to make it total 1000. This shows the level of LPG penetration in the state of Odisha.
Shri Pradhan stated that, currently 4 bottling plants are existing in the state of Odisha (2nd Carousel added at Balasore Bottling Plant & 2nd Shift started at Jharsuguda Bottling Plant Last Year) and three new bottling plants are being planned to be set up in Odisha in Khorda, Bolangir and Rayagada districts.
The Union Minister said that, “400 villages saturated with LPG connections and other benefits under Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and 670 LPG Panchayats conducted on Ujjawala Diwas on 20th April and 400 LPG Panchayats were conducted from 3rd-5th May under Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and it is a matter of pride that, LPG Penetration in Khurda district as on May 1st 2018 is 100 %.”
It may be noted here that, the LPG Panchayat also promoted and enhanced the target of enrolling 8 crore LPG beneficiaries and connections were provided to eligible beneficiaries on that day, during the LPG Panchayat.
LPG Panchayats are being observed to promote learning through peer group interaction – Kuch Seekhein, Kuch Sikhayein, where apart from experience sharing, it also aims at safe and sustained usage of LPG, to maximize customer enrolment. Safety Literature (Safety Instruction and Insurance cards) were distributed during the Panchayat session.
The objectives of observation of LPG Panchayat were to sensitise the Ujjwala beneficiaries about safety and utility of LPG, health benefits of using clean fuels, distribution of new connections to beneficiaries, explaining the details of Expanded PMUY categories getting covered and collection of KYC forms for expanded categories of Ujjwala etc.
Women who have experienced the benefits of cooking with LPG can now boost the confidence of other women about adopting this clean, green cooking fuel safely and without any reservations or misconceptions. Sharing of experiences by actual users on how to use LPG safely, as well as spread the message of its multiple benefits, like health, environment and empowerment of women and learning through peer group interaction were thus the main objectives of LPG Panchayats.
Among others Sri Bibhuti Bhusan Harichandan, MLA Chilika, Shri Jitu Mitra, Sri Prithviraj Harichandan, Shri Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, Shri Pritish Bharat (Chief General Manager, IndianOil & State Level Coordinator – Oil Industry), Shri S. K. Jha GM, LPG, IOCL, Shri Dharmendra Behura, DGM (LPG Sales), HPCL and Sri Sanjay Sharma, (LPG sales), BPCL for Odisha and Jharkhand were also present at this occasion.
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