Maharashtra: Free Annual Refills Of Three Gas Cylinders Under Chief Minister’s Annapurna Scheme
Maharashtra: Free Annual Refills Of Three Gas Cylinders Under Chief Minister's Annapurna Scheme
To ensure that women in the state can live in a smoke-free environment, provide clean fuel for cooking, improve the health of poor women, empower women, and prevent environmental harm, the state government has announced in the supplementary budget for the year 2024-25 that under the Chief Minister’s Annapurna Scheme, women will receive free refills for three gas cylinders annually.
This scheme will benefit approximately 5.2 million beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s Ujjwala Yojana and eligible families under the Chief Minister’s Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana Scheme, providing them with three free gas cylinder refills each year. The scheme will start providing benefits from July 1, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The gas connection must be in the woman’s name.
- Beneficiaries eligible under the Chief Minister’s My Beloved Sister Scheme will qualify for this scheme.
- Only one beneficiary per family, according to the ration card, will be eligible.
- The benefit applies only to holders of 14.2 kg gas cylinders.
Implementation:
- – The three free cylinders will be distributed through oil companies.
- – Currently, the market price of a gas cylinder distributed under the Prime Minister’s Ujjwala Yojana is approximately ₹830, of which ₹300 is subsidized by the central government and credited to the beneficiary’s bank account.
- – Similarly, under the Chief Minister’s Annapurna Scheme, oil companies will need to credit approximately ₹530 per cylinder to the beneficiary’s bank account.
- – No more than one subsidy per cylinder per month will be provided.
A state-level committee will be formed under the Controller of Rationing and Director of Civil Supplies, Mumbai, to oversee the effective implementation of the scheme, address complaints, and manage the overall operation. A separate committee will be set up under the district collector or additional district collector to select eligible beneficiaries for gas cylinders under the Chief Minister’s Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
The government has initiated several schemes for women’s empowerment, including the Chief Minister’s My Beloved Sister Scheme, the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startup Scheme, and free admissions for female students in vocational courses. The Chief Minister’s Annapurna Scheme aims to further enhance women’s empowerment and improve their quality of life.
Dr. Suhas Divase, District Collector Said:
Beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s Ujjwala Yojana and eligible families under the Chief Minister’s Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana in the district will receive three free gas cylinder refills annually starting July 1, 2024. Eligible women should contact district supply officers, district women and child development officers, assistant district supply officers, and local gas distribution centers to avail of this benefit.
