Free gas cylinders for women in AP starting October 31 under Deepam scheme

Amaravati: The supply of free cooking gas cylinders for all eligible women in the State will begin on October 31 on Deepavali, announced chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The chief minister on Monday held a meeting at the State Secretariat with the minister for Civil Supplies, Nadendla Manohar, officials of the Civil Supplies, along with representatives of Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation and Bharat Petroleum Corporation.

What is the Deepam scheme?

The meeting focussed on the guidelines for implementing the Deepam scheme. CM Chandrababu Naidu said that despite facing financial constraints, the State Government will move ahead in implementing the welfare schemes which are highly beneficial to the people, particularly to the poor.

The Deepam scheme, under which free cooking gas cylinders will be supplied to all eligible women in the State, should be implemented in the most transparent way from Deepavali, the chief minister said. All eligible women will get three free cylinders in a year and officials have been asked to make arrangements to book the cylinders in advance, particularly from October 24, as the supply begins on October 31.

“The money that the women have spent till now on gas cylinders can be utilised for other domestic purposes,” the chief minister said and added that such schemes will help improve the living conditions of the poor.

CM Naidu asked officials to ensure there will be no complaints from the beneficiaries regarding the implementation of the scheme. He said that his government is committed to the welfare of women in the State.

Expenditure on scheme

Secretary of Civil Supplies, Veerapandyan, made a presentation on the free gas cylinders supply scheme in which he said that the retail price of each domestic gas cylinder is Rs 876 now of which the Centre is providing Rs 25 as a subsidy.

Veerapandyan informed the meeting that the total additional burden on the State for the coming five years is Rs 13,423 crores of which Rs 2,684 crores per annum will be for the free supply of gas cylinders.

The State Government has already implemented some promises made to the people during the election time, including the reopening of Anna Canteens and now moving ahead to implement the Deepam scheme.