more-in Imagine carrying provisions on a mule’s back and climbing up a hill for two hours to reach home every time you step out for shopping. Tough for a city dweller to picture it. But that is how the residents of Akkarapatti, Keezh Valasai and Mel Valasai villages in the Kalvaroyan hills in Tiruvannamalai district manage their day-to-day life. And it is villagers like them that the State-run oil companies are now aiming to reach LPG cylinders under the expanded Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) through the LPG panchayats. “Many of our names were not included in the socio-economic caste census and so not everyone who needed an LPG connection got it. But now the Indian Oil Corporation is arranging connections for us,” said Govindan, a resident of Mel Valasai. Homemakers happy The Ujjwala scheme as it is known, has come as a relief to many home-makers, who were till now stuck with kerosene stoves or were using wood-fired chulhas. West Mogappair resident Krishnakumari Sukumaran, 59, said she was happy with her gas stove since she did not have to search for kerosene any more. “Earlier, I could not afford an LPG connection. But now thanks to the Ujjwala scheme I have one. I make a saving and there is no smell of kerosene during cooking. I am able to use one cylinder for 32 days,” she said. S. Kumar, Deputy General Manager (LPG), Chennai area, said that for those in far-off areas where distributors are over 30 km away, LPG refills are sent to villages in a truck and residents, who require t hem can purchase them. “During the panchayats, we will first build confidence among the users about LPG and how to use it safely. We we will collect details including residential proof and ID proof and bank account details. Basic emergency numbers including those of distributor and 1906 for leaks are provided to beneficiaries,” he explained.

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