Is Karnataka government rehashing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana under the 'Mukhyamantri Anila Bhagya scheme'? While questions are being raised about the similarities between the two schemes that aim at ensuring LPG connections to BPL families, Karnataka's Food and Civil Supplies minister U T Khader said that his government's scheme was much more than Ujjwala aims to be.
"To start with, Ujjwala scheme helps limited beneficiaries but our scheme will help every BPL family in the state with no disparity. Under Ujawala, beneficiaries are only given LPG connection but gas stoves are given on EMI which means the people will have to pay monthly installments. Under our scheme, we not only give free LPG connections but also a stove and two refills free of cost, U T Khader told OneIndia.
At the cost of more than Rs 84 crores, the Karnataka government under its new scheme named after 'Chief Minsiter', aims to help 21 lakh BPL families. "Close to 21 lakh BPL families will benefit out of the scheme and each family will get Rs 4040. Rs 1,900 as a deposit for the LPG connection, Rs 1,000 for the stove and two refills will be funded by the government," the minister added.
Vehemently denying rehashing of BJP government's scheme, U T Khader said that the Karnataka government's LPG distribution scheme was far better in comparison to Ujjwala. The Mukhyamantri Anila Bhagya scheme, the latest addition to the long list of 'Bhagya welfare programmes' introduced by the Siddaramaiah government, will be formally launched in December- months away from the assembly elections in Karnataka.
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