India – Govt may give free LPG stoves
9 Sep 2009
NEW DELHI: The government may give poor people LPG stoves free of cost as part of its blueprint to expand domestic cooking gas coverage to at least three-fourth of the population.
The Petroleum Ministry is considering a proposal to use the funds state-run oil firms set aside for CSR activities, an official source said.
“Public sector oil companies have been asked to spend at least two per cent of their net profit each year on corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. A part of these funds is proposed to be use to give free LPG stoves to poor people,” he said.
The scheme, he said, is part of Petroleum Minister Murli Deora’s blueprint to release 5.5 crore new LPG connections by 2015, taking the total number of LPG connections from present 11.5 crore to 16 crore. This would increase coverage from 50 per cent of population at present to 75 per cent.
“People living below poverty line (BPL) will be given free stoves and subsidised LPG,” he said.
As part of the agenda for the first 100 days of the UPA government’s second innings, Deora has already rolled out mobile phone text or SMS booking for LPG refills and toll-free number to make complaints.
Source – Economic Times
