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Bengaluru Hotel Owner Appeals to PM Modi Over LPG Crisis Impacting Women Entrepreneurs

Roopa Shastri, owner of Rasapaka Hotel in Bengaluru, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting a severe commercial LPG shortage crippling women-run hotels. She reports a more than 50% reduction in cylinder supply, making daily operations impossible and erasing profit margins. The crisis threatens the livelihoods of thousands of women employed in the sector, posing a major setback to women's empowerment. She has demanded immediate supply facilitation, priority for women entrepreneurs, and an economic package to offset price hikes until the global shortage subsides.

Key Points: Bengaluru Hotel Owner Writes to PM Modi on LPG Shortage Crisis

  • LPG shortage hits women hoteliers
  • 50% reduction in cylinder supply
  • Profit margins wiped out
  • Threat to women's livelihoods
  • Call for subsidy and priority supply
2 min read

Bengaluru: Hotel owner writes to PM Modi flagging economic impact on women entrepreneurs amid reported LPG shortage

Roopa Shastri flags economic blow to women entrepreneurs from LPG shortage, seeks subsidy and priority supply for hotels run by women.

"With a more than 50% reduction in the supply of commercial cylinders, it is becoming impossible to run hotels - Roopa Shastri"

Bengaluru, March 14

Roopa Shastri, the owner of Rasapaka Hotel in Bengaluru's Gandhinagar, has directly written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of women entrepreneurs, requesting the quick resolution of the reported LPG gas shortage amid the West Asia conflict. She also requested special attention to the hotels run by women.

In a letter addressed to PM Modi, she appealed for a solution to the commercial LPG crisis faced by women hoteliers in Karnataka. She highlighted the struggle faced by women entrepreneurs like herself with over 50 per cent reduction in the commercial LPG cylinders.

"With a more than 50% reduction in the supply of commercial cylinders, it is becoming impossible to run hotels like our Rasapata, which feed hundreds of people every day," she wrote in the letter.

Further, she stated that the commercial gas crisis has triggered a major economic blow to the women entrepreneurs, as thousands of women are employed in the hotel industry to earn their livelihood.

"Economic blow to women entrepreneurs: The increase in cylinder prices is completely wiping out our profit margins. It is hitting the livelihood of thousands of women workers who rely on it.

'It is very regrettable that the industries we have built with our hard work have reached a critical stage due to a lack of fuel, which is an obstacle to women's empowerment," she wrote in the letter.

Shastri demanded that commercial LPG supply for the hotel industry in Karnataka be facilitated immediately, special priority be given in the distribution of cooking gas to hotels run by women entrepreneurs, and a subsidy or economic package be announced to protect small hotels from price increases until the gas shortage subsides, the letter stated.

The shortage of LPG has emerged amid global energy supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. In response, the Union government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to prioritise domestic LPG supply, reserving higher allocations for households, hospitals, and essential services while restricting commercial distribution in several regions.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While I sympathize with the hotel owners, the government's priority for domestic supply is correct. Households, especially in rural areas, should not face shortages. The global situation is tough, we all have to bear some burden.
S
Sarah B
Writing directly to the PM is a bold move. It highlights how critical this is for small businesses. The ripple effect on women workers is huge. A targeted subsidy for women-run MSMEs in this sector could be a good solution.
A
Arjun K
The government's response under the Essential Commodities Act is necessary, but it feels like a blanket approach. Can't the oil marketing companies create a separate, managed quota for verified women-run enterprises? There has to be a middle path.
M
Meera T
Absolutely right! "Women's empowerment" is just a slogan if basic infrastructure like fuel isn't secured for their businesses. This isn't just about profit, it's about livelihood for so many families. The letter sums it up perfectly.
D
David E
A respectful criticism: While the letter is important, was there no state-level minister or local MP who could have addressed this first? The system needs to be responsive at all levels, not just at the very top.
K
Kavya N
This is

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