Facts:
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Around eight crore customers were enlisted in late 2019 for LPG connections.
How Ujjwala has delivered such positive results?
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Successful implementation of the Direct Benefit Transfer of LPG (DBTL) or PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hanstantrit Labh) scheme of 2014 freed up the financial resources needed to make large-scale programme for deposit-free LPG connections a reality.
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Production of cylinders, pressure regulators, hose and affordable LPG stoves was enhanced.
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New distributors/dealers were appointed to reach remote pockets.
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Political representatives helped to sustain enthusiasm for Ujjwala, and ensure its implementation on ground.
What are the environmental and health benefits of clean fuel?
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Adoption of LPG/Clean fuel by pregnant women is said to give huge health gains in future.
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LPG is not a greenhouse gas (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and assigned with a global warming potential (GWP) factor of zero.
What are the challenges in furthering the cause of clean fuel in India?
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In rural areas people use multiple types of cooking stoves – LPG, fuelwood, induction or electric heater, etc to lower their dependency on any single source.
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According to the recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5, there was a higher prevalence of TB in households that were using solid fuels when compared to those using clean cooking fuels in most States.
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Pandemic has resulted in LPG prices having gone up and governmental support focusing on other challenges.
Way Forward:
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Need for a sustainable basket: Overall, the push has to be such that every household moves toward adopting a more sustainable cooking energy basket.
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Improvements in demand-supply chain of LPG with options for refill financing for poor households.
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Women’s incomes can be given a boost through the National Rural Livelihoods Mission which can nudge them to choose a more sustainable cooking mix.