Among the many “achievements” of Modi regime one can count false promises and tall claims. But in spite of the tall claims about the success of the Ujjwala Gas Yojana by Modi Government it has turned out to be a damp squib. The hype generated about the yojana having benefited thousands of women across the country to come out of their smoky chulha environment remained what most of this government's pronouncements have been - a mere jumla. We have conducted a survey of the recipients of the Ujwala Yojana which has exposed the false claims of the Modi government. 1. The beneficiaries are few and far between. 2. The gas chulha and cylinder are not doled out for free – there is an initial payment to be made. What is interesting is that this payment is not a constant – it varies from Rs. 1200-3000. 3. The chulhas are of very poor quality. In one case, the beneficiary reported that it broke after she kept a heavy vessel on it. 4. The next round of filling was the actual shock – no subsidy on the cylinder. In effect the Ujjwala gas turned out to be more expensive than a regular connection. The chulha and the cylinder became mere show pieces in the house while many “beneficiaries” reverted to traditional modes of cooking. Thus Ujjwala has actually been used to cheat people out of their subsidies. The survey exposes the utter failure of the Ujwala Yojana, and the fraudulent claims of the BJP in this regard. In the coming days, we would leave no stone unturned in exposing many such claims of this government.
