Shillong, June 19: Union minister of state for railways Rajen Gohain today appealed to financially sound people to give up availing of subsidy for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), as he launched the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana for beneficiaries in Meghalaya at a function here today.

Speaking at the launch of the central scheme which aims at safeguarding the health of women and children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel (LPG), Gohain appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for launching the scheme on May 1 last year, under which five crore LPG connections would be provided to BPL families in the country with a support of Rs 1,600 per connection for the next three years.

Among others present on the occasion were parliamentary secretary Kennedy C. Khyriem, additional chief secretary P.W. Ingty and Indian Oil officials.

As a symbolic launch of the scheme in the state, 22 beneficiaries from BPL families were given LPG connections.

"Till March 31 last year, around 1.11 crore customers had given up LPG subsidy, following the Prime Minister's appeal," Gohain said.

He said the scheme would change the standard of living of the poor and rural populace and give women and children access to clean fuel for cooking, which would help protect the environment. The scheme is a part of the Prime Minister's dream of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, he added.

Meghalaya minister for health and family welfare Roshan Warjri lauded the Prime Minister for launching the scheme. She said it was a significant step towards women empowerment. Recalling the days when people, especially in the rural areas, were scared of using LPG for cooking, thinking it might burst, Warjri urged the oil marketing companies and LPG distributors to focus on raising consumer awareness regarding the utility of LPG as a cooking fuel.

Earlier, Indian Oil executive director Dipankar Ray described the process of providing LPG connection to households in Meghalaya and the Northeast a "challenging" one, since there are more households without LPG than those with LPG coverage. "Meghalaya, as on June 1 this year, has 23 per cent households (6.32 lakh) with LPG coverage, and in the entire Northeast, it is just 49 per cent."

He said oil marketing companies would do their best to achieve 100 per cent penetration by organising camps for providing connection to BPL families.

At present, 46 distributors cater to 1.45 lakh consumers in Meghalaya. Introduction of six new LPG distributors is in the pipeline.

Shortage of cooking gas in several parts of Shillong and the state has always been an issue. The absence of a separate bottling plant for Meghalaya is one of the reasons for the shortage.