Ujjwala and Himachal Grihini Suvidha scheme of Centre and State government prove boon for the people of the state and making Himachal Pradesh the first state in the country to become smoke-free state. Ujjwalla Yojna was started by the Centre government with the view to free the women of the country from indoor pollution. Along with this, the Himachal government also started the Grihini Suvidha Yojana to benefit as many women as possible, under the scheme. Under the Ujjwala yojna with an expenditure of Rs. 21.81 crore 1.36 lakh free domestic connections were given in Himachal, while under the Grihini Suvidha Yojana of the Himachal government, 3.23 lakh housewives were provided free gas cylinders at a cost of Rs. 120 crore. Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojana was launched on 26th May, 2018. With the concerted efforts of the Centre and State government, the women of the state have become free from the indoor pollution.
Besides this, in order to conserve environment, free LPG connection is given to families with no gas connection. The objective of launching the Mukhyamantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna was to provide free gas connections to those families who were not covered under the Centre’s Ujjwala scheme. On the lines of the Ujjwala scheme, the state government started the Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojana. The Ujjwala Yojana being run by the Central Government and the Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojana of the State Government have proved to be a boon for the women of Himachal. As a result of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna, the dependence on wood for fuel has reduced. Besides this, the adverse effect of smoke on the health of women has also been relieved and improved the standard of living of women.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
