Modi Sets Poll Pitch In UP, Launches LPG For Poor Scheme

The maximum wage that entitles bonus to workers has been raised to Rs 21,000 from Rs 10,000 per month previously, while bonus limit too has been doubled to Rs 7,000.

Provident fund (PF) portability has been provided to help utilise the Rs 27,000 crore of retirement benefits lying unused because of workers changing jobs or cities.
(REOPENS DEL 37)

Modi said he had last year pledged to electrify 18,000 villages where even an electricity pole has not reached so far, in next 1,000 days.

Uttar Pradesh, he said, has given many Prime Ministers to the country and he was fortunate that the state has accepted him.

The state had 1,529 villages where even electricity poles had not reached. In 250 days since the scheme was launched, 1,326 villages have been electrified and power supply started, he said adding the remaining villages would be covered soon.

He asked people to pledge not to pollute river Ganga to protect the environment and heritage.

On March 27, Modi had officially launched the 'Give-it-Up' campaign, urging the well-off to surrender their LPG subsidy so that it can be given to the needy.

The aim is also to bring down the country's dependence on energy imports by 10 per cent by 2022.

"Responding to the call, 1.10 crore people have given up their subsidies," he said.

Subsidy surrendered will be used to provide free LPG connection to BPL families.

Consumers are currently entitled to 12 cylinders of 14.2 kg each or 34 bottles of 5 kg each in a year at subsidised rates. A subsidised 14.2-kg cylinder is currently available at Rs 419.15 per bottle in Delhi while the 5-kg pack costs Rs 155.

Market-priced LPG is available at Rs 509.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder. Giving up subsidised LPG will help cut the government's subsidy bill, which was at Rs 30,000 crore for the fuel last fiscal.

Nearly Rs 5,000 crore of subsidy saved through the campaign is being used to provide LPG connection to the poor. "We have released 60 lakh new connection to poor in the last one year," he said.

Under the scheme launched today, a financial support of Rs 1,600 for each LPG connection will be provided to the BPL households. The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation with the state governments and the Union Territories.

The country currently has 16.64 crore active LPG consumers.

Stating that LPG coverage is being increased, he said there are serious health hazards associated with cooking based on fossil fuels.

According to WHO estimates, about 5 lakh deaths occur in India alone due to unclean cooking fuels. Experts say having an open fire in the kitchen is like burning 400 cigarettes an hour.

Providing LPG connections to BPL households will ensure universal coverage of cooking gas in the country and this will empower women and protect their health, he said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had in his Budget for 2016-17 provided Rs 2,000 crore to provide deposit free LPG connections to 1.5 crore women belonging to BPL families.

Further, the Budget announced that the scheme will be continued for two more years to cover 5 crore households.

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