New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the 'Ujjwala Yojna', a flagship welfare scheme of his government aimed at increasing LPG cylinder coverage among poor families, has led to a social transformation with over 45 per cent of its four crore beneficiaries being Dalits and tribals.
Speaking at an interaction with the scheme's beneficiaries, he underlined the role the scheme played in alleviating the lives of the poor by providing them with gas cylinders and even invited himself to a meal of ‘idlis’ and ‘dosas’ at the home of one of the beneficiaries present at the event.
In a bid to demonstrate the relief the flagship program had brought to its beneficiaries, the PM asked the woman whether she could make idlis and dosas before the gas cylinder to which she replied that it was very difficult indeed. She added that now she could cook anything with ease.
“Will you make me some dosas when I come over?” the PM was quoted saying so by Times of India.
The LPG reach is now 100 per cent in 70 per cent villages and more than 75 per cent in 81 per cent villages, he said.
The clean fuel is leading to healthy India, Modi said, citing benefits of LPG fuel.
"Till 2014, 13 crore families got LPG connection. This means, for over six decades the figure stood at 13 crore. It was mostly the rich people who got LPG connections. In the last 4 years, 10 crore new connections have been added and the poor benefited," he said.
The PM also outlined the ways in which the Ujjwal Yojana was bringing upon a transformation in the lives of the marginalised communities in India, including Dalits and tribals.
"Since people started to get benefits under the Ujjwala Yojna, a big social transformation is visible. I am happy to tell you that out of its four crore beneficiaries 45 percent are Dalits and tribals," he said.
He emphasised his government's pro-Dalit credentials by comparing benefits given to the community under it against what they received under the Congress-led UPA government.
While Dalits got 445 petrol pumps under 2010-14 during the UPA rule, more than 1200 of them got it during 2014-18 in his government's rule, he said, adding the corresponding figures for LPG distribution centres for the community are over 900 and 1300.
During the recent 'Gram Swaraj Yojna', 11 lakh people received LPG connection in one day, he said, adding more and more people are joining the list of its beneficiaries.
"Ujjwala Yojana has strengthened the lives of the poor, marginalised, Dalits, tribal communities. This initiative is playing a central role in social empowerment," Modi said.
In his speech, Modi also recalled that when he was young he had many Muslim neighbours.
"Many of my friends were Muslims. I remember during Ramzan, women woke up particularly early but the coming of the Ujjwala Yojana would have changed that too," he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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