Himachal Pradesh has become the first smoke free state and 100 percent LPG enabled state of India. This has been achieved due to the Centre government scheme “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana” and the Himachal Pradesh’s “Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojana”.
Under the PM Ujjwala Yojana, Himachal Pradesh government has provided 1.36 lakh free LPG domestic connections in the state with an expenditure of Rs. 21.81 crore. On the other hand, the state’s Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojana has given 3.23 lakh free LPG gas cylinders to the families with no gas connection at a cost of Rs. 120 crore. This move was aimed on the lines of Ujjwala Yojana with a view to free the people of the country from indoor pollution caused by chullah and to conserve the environment as well.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched to provide gas connections free of cost to poor women of rural areas of India. Inorder to cover those families who were not covered under this Ujjwala Yojana, the Himachal Pradesh government launched the Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojana on 26thMay, 2018 to provide free gas connections in the state. As a result of both the Schemes, Himachal Pradesh has now become the first smoke free state as well as 100 percent LPG enabled state of India, thus reducing the adverse effect of smoke on the health of women and improving the standard living of women.