Question : Beneficiaries under PMUY

(a) the State-wise number of beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) including the cost of Gas cylinder, regulator and pipe, item-wise since inception of the said scheme;
(b) the number of such beneficiaries under PMUY who have got refilled their fourth, fifth gas cylinder during the last four years;
(c) whether any survey has been conducted to know the reasons behind the beneficiaries not refilling their gas cylinders regularly and if so, the details thereof along with the number of times these beneficiaries have returned for a LPG refill during the last four years;
(d) whether a study or survey was conducted by Research Institute for Compassionate Economics, which pointed out 90 percent of the total beneficiaries of Ujjwala still use conventional firewood and cowdung for cooking and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether it is also a fact that people are suffering from the upfront cost and the delay in receipt of the subsidy for each purchase and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to address the said issue?

MINISTER OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) Under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a deposit free LPG connection is provided to an adult woman member of a poor family with cash assistance upto ? 1600 per connection which includes security deposit of cylinder, security deposit of Pressure Regulator, Suraksha Hose, Installation/demonstration charges and cost of issue of DGCC booklet. Beneficiaries are required to make payment towards purchase of refill and the Hot plate (Stove). As on 19.06.2019, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have
released more than 7.23 crore new LPG connections under PMUY. State/UT-wise details are at Annexure.
(b) OMCs have reported that till May 2019, 1.67 crore and 1.45 crore PMUY beneficiaries have purchased the refilled LPG cylinders 4 and 5 times respectively. (c)&(d)OMCs have reported that surveys/studies have been conducted by some Agencies/Institutes/Organizations involving PMUY beneficiaries. OMCs have also reported that nearly 86% of PMUY beneficiaries who are atleast one year old have returned for the second refill. Adoption and use of LPG on sustained basis by a beneficiary of PMUY involves behavioural change. The use of LPG by PMUY beneficiary household depends on several factors which include food habits, cooking habits, price of LPG, availability of free firewood, cow dung etc. (e) The PMUY beneficiaries get subsidy under PAHAL Scheme. The applicable subsidy is directly transferred into the bank account of beneficiaries. Direct transfer of subsidy aids in right targeting of the beneficiary and prevent diversion.