Latest news with #RadhikaJha
Hindustan Times
10-08-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Cost-effectiveness analysis of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in India
This brief analyses the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), launched in 2016 to provide cooking gas to 80 million poor rural households of India. It uses the Well-being Analysis framework to analyse the scheme beyond traditional economic measures and widen the focus to include improvements in people's overall life. The path-breaking policy initiative was envisioned to reduce dependency on traditional methods of cooking that use polluting fuels like coal and firewood, as well as to mitigate drudgery among women who, because of widely accepted social norms, spend more time in the kitchen. The brief also assesses PMUY's cost-effectiveness through WELLBY (Wellbeing-Years) calculations, showcasing a potential benchmarking for a well-being-driven planning framework for policymakers. Beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana at Parliament house, New Delhi, August 3, 2018(Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO) The Government of India launched the PMUY, the (Prime Minister's Flagship Scheme) in 2016 to provide clean cooking fuel to rural households who would otherwise rely on polluting options such as coal and firewood, create ancillary employment, and reduce fossil fuel use. The scheme aimed to give free gas connections to 80 million families by 2020 to improve rural women's health and promote their empowerment. Before the scheme's launch, approximately 22% of India's population (270 million) were living below the poverty line, 80% of them in rural areas, where cooking relied on coal, firewood, and cow dung cakes. At the time of the scheme's launch, 64% of the population had no access to clean cooking sources, compared to the world average of 38%. Women would walk long distances to collect firewood and spend hours in smoke-filled kitchens, facing health hazards, fire accidents, and a poor quality of life due to the unaffordable cost of gas connections. Under the programme, the gas connection was issued in the name of an adult woman in the household, ensuring a women-centric and inclusive approach. The scheme was implemented by the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, with oil marketing companies mandated to provide interest-free loans for the purchase of stoves and gas refills after the initial connection. The entire administrative cost was borne by the government, with state-level monitoring to ensure effective implementation. An initial budget of ₹80,000 crore was allocated, and information dissemination camps were organised to raise awareness and train women in the safe handling of stoves and cylinders. This paper can be accessed here. This paper is authored by Radhika Jha, ORF.
India Gazette
08-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Delhi: Uttarakhand CM inaugurates outlet of 'House of Himalayas', aims to give global recognition to local products
New Delhi [India], July 8 (ANI): Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the outlet of 'House of Himalayas' at Uttarakhand Niwas Complex in New Delhi on Tuesday, intending to give global recognition to the natural and handmade goods produced in the mountainous regions. This outlet will become a powerful medium to present the traditional heritage and organic products of Uttarakhand in an organised form in the national capital. Through this, not only will the rich folk culture of the state be brought to the country, but local products will also get new markets. The Chief Minister said that this initiative is the result of the vision of the state government, which aims to give global recognition to the natural and handmade goods produced in the mountainous regions. 'This step will strengthen the rural economy and also provide new opportunities to local artisans and craftsmen,' the CM said. Keeping in mind the Chardham Yatra, the state government has set up attractive floor-standing units and retail carts at more than 13 prominent places to promote the sale of local products at pilgrimage and tourist places like Naini Saini Airport, Pantnagar Airport, Dehradun Helipad, GMVN Shri Kedarnath, Badrinath, Harshil, Guptkashi, Kaudiyala, Mussoorie, Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh), Snow Crest (Badrinath), ATI (Nainital) and Centria Mall. These retail carts are becoming the centre of attraction for devotees and tourists. Apart from this, the process of setting up retail carts is also in progress at prestigious institutions like Marriott Mussoorie, Taj Dehradun, FRI and LBSNAA and Delhi Haat in the national capital. This initiative is not only giving national and international recognition to local products, but is also strongly presenting the rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship of Uttarakhand. Secretary Rural Development Radhika Jha said that the 'House of Himalayas' brand has created a special identity based on its quality in a short time. To promote the cultural and traditional identity of Uttarakhand and connect high-end tourists with local products, strategic partnerships have been made with reputed hotels like Taj (Rishikesh, Ramnagar), Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Regency (Dehradun), Marriott (Ramnagar), Westin (Narendranagar) and JP Group (Mussoorie). Under this initiative, retail carts of 'House of Himalayas' have been set up in various major hotels of the state, which are providing direct availability of special handmade and organic products of Uttarakhand to the tourists. This step is not only encouraging local producers and artisans towards economic empowerment, but is also an important initiative towards sustainable tourism and self-reliant Uttarakhand. The concept of the 'House of Himalayas' brand was first presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Global Investors Summit 2023. Under this brand, special products of Uttarakhand like Buransh Sharbat, wild honey, mountain pulses, traditional spices, handmade clothes and other organic materials will now be able to reach the major cities of the country in a systematic form. (ANI)
