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On 1 May 2016, at the launch of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the audience, most of whom were women:
“When a poor mother cooks food on a chulha with the help of firewood, even scientists have said, she inhales smoke equivalent to that of 400 cigarettes.”
In the last three years, the government claims to have given 7 crore free LPG connections under the Ujjwala Yojana. The Quint visited villages as well as a slum area in Bhopal to assess the scheme’s performance.
‘We Are on the Verge of Blindness’
As soon as you enter the Bedkhedi village, which is at a distance of 21 km from Bhopal, it is the ‘Swachh Bharat’ graffiti on the walls that draws your attention.
‘If you don’t adopt cleanliness, will get only diseases in return,’ says one which has been painted on behalf of the gram panchayat.
I was looking for Ramkali, my point person in Bedkhedi, who had informed me about a number of people in the village still waiting for gas connections under Ujjwala.
While we were trying to find our way, an old man on a cycle offered to help. But he requested to visit his house first. His name was Lalji Ram Kushwaha, and he had been trying to get a free gas connection since August 2018.
“I had submitted (the form) myself. My name has been struck off. We are on the verge of blindness, can’t see properly.”Lalji Ram Kushwaha, Resident, Bedkhedi Village
Lalji explained how he had filled the Ujjwala form hoping that it would help in getting a free LPG connection and, thus rid the family of its daily ordeal of inhaling smoke from the chulha.
“We need your blessings so that we can get a cylinder, for the children’s sake.”Lalji Ram Kushwaha, Resident, Bedkhedi Village
‘A Cylinder Would’ve Eased Household Chores’
Sixty-year-old Lakshmibai, too, had filled out the Ujjwala form hoping that a new cylinder connection would help in household chores.
Though her daughter-in-law does help in cooking, the lack of a cylinder means Lakshmibai has to get up at 5 every morning to get lunch for a family of six ready on time.
“I get up at 5 am, after cleaning and filling water, I start cooking. If I had got this facility (gas connection), I would have made sabzi on one (burner) and roti on another.”Lakshmibai, Resident, Bedkhedi Village
She admits that cooking on a chulha often results in a burning sensation in her eyes.
BPL Families in Bhopal City Waiting for LPG Connection
Denying BPL families free LPG connection is not a rural phenomenon. In Bhopal city, migrants from the Gond community living in slum areas are also waiting for their LPG connections.
Mannibai, who lives in Shyam Nagar’s JNNURM colony has visited the concerned office thrice, only to return without an answer each time.
“I have already gone at least two to three times. They (officials) tell me to bring my Aadhaar card to complete the formalities.”Mannibai, Resident, Shyam Nagar
With genuine beneficiaries still waiting for a free LPG connection, has the Ujjwala Yojana failed in its objective of changing the lives of poor women?
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