Key Points

Rural women in Visakhapatnam are experiencing life-changing benefits from the Ujjwala Yojana LPG scheme. They report saving hours previously spent gathering firewood and cooking, allowing time for income-generating work. The ₹300 subsidy helps families meet other essential needs while improving indoor air quality. Government data shows the scheme has expanded LPG coverage to 99.8% of households since 2016.

Key Points: Ujjwala Yojana transforms lives of Visakhapatnam rural women

  • Women report 2-3 hours saved daily from firewood cooking
  • LPG subsidies help meet household financial needs
  • Beneficiaries balance work and home life better
  • Scheme linked to 46% rural TB case reduction
4 min read

Ujjwala Yojana brings positive change to lives of rural women of Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam women share how PM Ujjwala Yojana saved time, improved health, and empowered them financially through LPG connections.

"I can save time and financially support my family now - Durga, Ujjwala beneficiary"

Visakhapatnam, June 11

Several women beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana from Visakhapatnam expressed gratitude and shared how the scheme has positively impacted their daily lives, both at home and outside.

Dashari Kumari, a beneficiary of the scheme, shared her experience. "I got my connection in the year 2018. I came to know about this through a news article. Then, I approached a nearby distributor operator, namely Dwarka Gas Service. Thereafter, I immediately got the gas connection as per the scheme," she said.

Talking about the benefits, Dashari added, "I could save a lot of time because of which now I am able to manage my work life as well as at home. I am able to feed my children whatever they want in less time."

Another beneficiary, Durga from Mouli in Visakhapatnam, expressed her appreciation for the initiative. "Earlier, I used firewood and coal for cooking. It used to take two to three hours to prepare food. Now, I can save that time. Within less time, I can prepare food for my children. And now I am engaged in other outside work also. With the financial benefit I am getting -- that Rs. 300 subsidy amount -- I was able to utilise that amount for other needs as well. I can save time. Financially, I am happy. So, I am thankful to our Prime Minister for providing me with this connection under the scheme," she said.

Revathi, another beneficiary from Parvathipuram Manyam district, said, "I came to know about this scheme through a distributor named Pentapati Kamaraju. I immediately approached him and was able to get the benefit under the scheme. Very soon, he installed the connection. Earlier, I was using firewood, so it used to take a lot of time. Now, I can save that time. With that support--both time and financial--whatever my children need, especially when they come back from school and want some snacks, I can now prepare them quickly. I'm also able to work outside. I am managing both my work life and home life with the help of this scheme."

Another beneficiary from the same district, Devi, also spoke about her experience. "I came to know about this scheme from the distributor Pentapati Kamaraju, and immediately, when I approached him, he sanctioned the connection. Whenever I need a refill, he is readily available and delivers the cylinder. I can save time, and it also helps me financially. Now, I can spend some quality time with my family," she said.

"I go for small kinds of work outside. So early in the morning, I have to leave. Earlier, using firewood and coal took a lot of time. So I couldn't manage everything in the morning. Now, I am very comfortable and can balance both things," Devi added.

As per data shared by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, "The domestic LPG consumer base in the country has witnessed significant growth during the PMUY (Ujjwala) phase, increasing from 8.3 crore consumers as of March 2005, to 32.9 crore consumers by March 2025. LPG coverage has risen substantially from 62 per cent in 2016 to an estimated 99.8 per cent. Women spend quality time with family and contribute to the family income. Contributed to reducing deforestation and environmental degradation by lowering the reliance on traditional biomass for cooking."

Rural populations saw a 46 per cent decrease in TB cases per 1 lakh people, while urban areas saw a four per cent decrease between 2019-21 compared to 2015-16, as per the National Family Health Survey shared by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya K.
This is truly heartwarming to read! 👏 Ujjwala Yojana has been a game-changer for rural women. My aunt in Andhra also got her connection last year and she says it's reduced her cooking time by half. More power to such initiatives that empower women at grassroots level!
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Rahul S.
While the scheme is good, the government should also focus on making LPG refills more affordable. Many beneficiaries I know in rural areas still find it expensive to get regular refills despite the subsidy. The initial connection is just half the battle won.
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Sunita M.
As someone from Visakhapatnam, I've seen firsthand how this scheme has transformed lives. Women no longer have to inhale smoke all day and can focus on other productive work. The health benefits mentioned in the article are especially important - less TB cases means happier families!
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Arjun P.
The environmental impact is often overlooked! Less firewood means less deforestation and cleaner air. My village in AP has visibly cleaner air since most households switched to LPG. Hope they continue expanding the scheme to reach every last household.
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Lakshmi V.
The time savings mentioned here are so important! When women save 2-3 hours daily on cooking, they can use that time for education, work or rest. This is real women empowerment, not just empty slogans. More such practical schemes please!
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Kiran D.
I appreciate how the article highlights multiple beneficiaries' stories. The scheme's success lies in these small but significant changes in ordinary women's lives. Though implementation could be smoother in some areas, overall it's made a big difference in rural India.

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