Question : LPG CONNECTIONS

(a) whether various State Governments have launched schemes to provide free LPG connections to BPL families;

(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(c) whether the Union Government proposes to provide free of cost LPG connections to BPL families in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Union Government has received any proposal from the State Government of Madhya Pradesh in this regard; and

(e) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Union Government thereon ?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SMT PANABAAKA LAKSHMI )

(a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 455 BY SHRI PREMCHAND (GUDDU) TO BE ANSWERED ON 26TH APRIL, 2013 REGARDING LPG CONNECTIONS.

(a) to (e) : Some State Governments have launched schemes to provide LPG connections to BPL families by various names and varying features inter-alia, Deepam in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Free LPG scheme in Tamil Nadu, Grihalaxmi in Chhattisgarh, Vanbandhu in Gujarat, Antyodaya in Jharkhand, Tribal beneficiary Scheme in Maharashtra, Randhan Jyoti in Assam, Forest Scheme in Mizoram, Janta Mela in Sikkim, Mata Sabri Mahila Shashaktikaran in Himachal Pradesh, Pondicherry Govt. Free LPG connection and similar schemes in Uttaranchal, Goa and Madhya Pradesh.

Government of India has also formulated a scheme for providing one time grant to BPL families in the rural areas for release of new domestic LPG connection under Rajiv Gandhi Gramin LPG Vitaran Yojana (RGGLVY). As per the scheme, the security deposit for the domestic LPG cylinder and pressure regulator is paid from a fund generated from the contributions from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds of ONGC, OIL, GAIL, BPCL, HPCL and IOC.

Apart from the above, in the recent past, Delhi Government announced a scheme, “Kerosene Free Dilli” to make NCT of Delhi kerosene free. New domestic LPG connection is issued free of cost to the BPL/ AAY & JRC card holders of Delhi getting kerosene supply. 50% of security deposit of LPG cylinder & pressure regulator is borne by Delhi Government and the remaining 50% by the OMCs through the common CSR fund mentioned above for BPL/AAY

Government has not received any proposal from the State Government of Madhya Pradesh for providing free LPG connections to BPL families. However, there is a scheme of MP Government called Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana where, LPG connection is released to a girl of BPL family on getting married with State Government assistance.