New Delhi, Mar 18: NCP lawmaker Vandana Chavan on Thursday raised the demand for re-structuring of Ujjwala schemes for LPG connections in rural areas.

“According to a Lancet report, household air pollution claims lives of half a million Indians and is cause for major lethal diseases,” she said and appreciated the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’s aim to distribute LPG connections and promote clean cooking fuel.

She also said that it was heartening to see the Government’s claim that 98 per cent coverage in a short duration but many reports, including those commissioned by the Centre, have shown that only 20 per cent increase in the actual usage of clean cooking fuel from 2015-2020.

Demanding a re-structuring of the scheme for rural areas, Ms Chavan said that the subsidy has been given to the consumer through DBT once they get their cylinder was filled. “This creates a lot of financial pressure on the poor consumers and often they could not get their cylinder filled.(UNI)