塑造未来：印度总理乌贾拉扬贾纳计划如何解决印度的能源需求

SHAPINGTHE FUTURE HOWPMUJJWALAYOJANAISADDRESSING INDIA’S ENERGY NEEDS ndia,withitslargepopulationanddiversesocio-economicIconditions, has long struggled to ensure clean and affordableenergy access for all, especially in rural and impoverished areas. Foryears, communities in these regions have depended on traditionalsources like firewood, cow dung, and kerosene, which pose healthhazards and harm the environment. To tackle this issue, the Governmentof India introduced the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in May2016. This initiative aims to provide Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)connections to families living below the poverty line (BPL), with aparticular focus on women. PMUY represents a groundbreaking programaddressing multiple facets of India's energy challenges, from improvingheal thandempoweringwomentopromotingeconomicandenvironmental sustainability. Need for PMUY 2016, in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, to addressthe energy challenges faced by familiesliving below the poverty line (BPL). Thescheme’saimistoenhanceaccesstoclean energy, mitigate health risks fromindoorairpollutionandempowerwomenbyofferingasafe,cleanandefficientalternativetocookingfuel.During the launch of this scheme, thegovernment set a target of releasing eightc r o r eL P Gc o n n e c t i o n st ot h eunderprivilegedbyMarch2020.ThePrimeMinistermetthetargetinSeptember 2019 itself, reflecting the massadoptionbythepopulationandthegovernment’sefforttoimplementthisscheme. Energy access has long been a challengein India, particularly in rural areas whereinfrastructuredevelopmenthaslaggedbehind urban regions. As of 2016, around40% of Indian households lacked accessto clean cooking fuel, relying instead ontraditionalsourcessuchaswood,cowdung, and crop waste for cooking. Thisdependenceontraditionalfuelhadadverseeffectsonhealthandtheenvironment.AccordingtotheWorldHealth Organisation (WHO), indoor airpollution caused by the burning of solidf ue l sc o nt r i b u te stom i l l io n sofpremature deaths globally each year. InIndia,itwasestimatedthatover1.3millionpeoplediedannually,withwomenandchildrenbeingoverlyaffected due to their prolonged exposurewhile cooking. The initial focus of PMUY was on stateswiththehighestconcentrationofBPLfamilies and low LPG penetration. Thesestates included Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, WestBengal, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. Thescheme was designed to provide financialassistanceofRs.1,600(US$19.03)foreach LPG connection, covering the cost ofthe cylinder, pressure regulator, hose andinstallation. The beneficiaries were alsogiven the option of borrowing a loan topurchase a stove and the first refill, whichthey could repay over time. Moreover, this reliance on biomass fuelplacedasignificantburdenonruralwomen, who often spent hours collectingfirewoodandotherfuel.Thistime-consuming and labour-intensive processl i m i t e dt h e i ro p p o r t u n i t i e sf o rproductivetaskssuchaseducation,employment and economic contributiontowards the country. ImplementationandexpansionofPMUY Launch of PMUY ThePradhanMantriUjjwalaYojana(PMUY)wasintroducedbyPrimeMinister Mr. Narendra Modi on May 1, TheimplementationwasconductedincollaborationwiththeMinistryofPetroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), oil Eligibility criteria for PMUY marketing companies (OMCs), and stategovernments. A robust identification andverification process was put into place toensure the benefits reached the intendedaudience.TheSocio-EconomicCasteCensus (SECC) 2011 data was used toidentify eligible BPL households, and theschemewasimplementedinaphasedmanner to cover all the regions of thecountry. Here are the criteria that any applicantmust fulfil to be eligible to apply for thePMUY scheme: •The applicant must be a woman overthe age of 18 and an Indian citizen.•She should come from a family living belowthepovertyline,andnoothermember of the household should possessan LPG connection. TofacilitatetheadoptionofLPGconnections, the government and OMCslaunched extensive awareness campaignshighlightingthehealth,economicandenvironmental benefits of clean cookingfuel.Thesecampaignstargetedruralwomen,educatingthemabouttheharmful effects of traditional fuel and theadvantagesofswitchingtoLPG.Theschemewasextendedtocovermorebeneficiaries, including those from SC/STcommunities,forestdwellers,andteagarden workers, among others. •Thefamily’stotalmonthlyincomemust be within the limit set by the Stateor Union Territory Government.•The applicant’s name must appear in the SECC-2011 list and align with thei n f or m a t ioni nt heB P Ld a t a b a s emaintained by oil marketing companies.•The applicant must not be enrolled in any other similar government scheme.Additionally, the applicant is required to provide a set of documents that verifyherBPLstatus,identity,andotherrelevant information. Impact of PMUY on India’s Energy Needs The PMUY has been an impactful schemelaunched by the government, benefitingtheunderprivilegedinIndia.Thisisvisible through the progress over the pastdecade.Withthe