Around 500 BPL families in Sattari have benefitted under the scheme, but they cannot refill at Rs 900 per cylinder.
Families now contemplating selling off cylinders that have become show-pieces.
Locals say if there is no provision of refilling, what is the use of the scheme.
Goemkarponn desk
VALPOI: About 500 people in Sattari taluka have been provided free gas under the PM’s Ujjwala Yojana 2021, but these cylinders now remain empty after use and remain a piece of decoration as the beneficiaries cannot afford to refill.
Beneficiaries have now demanded that the government make provision for refilling as they cannot afford the same.
The government has provided free gas to families below the poverty line under the Ujjwala scheme. About 500 people from Sattari taluka have benefited under this scheme, under which free gas has already been distributed to these beneficiaries in different panchayats and municipal areas.
However, while the first cylinder was provided free of cost, the refilling has become a headache as the gas prices have reached Rs 900.
People say they cannot afford LPG cylinders at such a high rate, and the government has to provide a refill.
The BPL families say, if the government has to come with some scheme, they will have to revert back to teh old ways of cooking on woodfires and kerosene stoves.
The families say teh scheme is vague and lacks clarity.
Expressing her reaction, Lakshmi Parwar, one of the beneficiaries, said that the government provided free gas for the first time.
“But not what, we cannot afford to buy a gas cylinder. At present, gas cylinder price is more than 800-900 rupees,” she said.
She added as the people cannot afford the cylinders, they have become showpieces.
Mahadev Gaonkar said that the government’s energy plan to provide free gas to the families below the poverty line is welcomed.
“This has benefited many families. But how does the government expect the poor people to refill cylinders at such high prices?” he asked.
Meanwhile, many people told Goemkarponn they have come up with selling these gas cylinders as they cannot afford to buy them.
Speaking on anonymity, many said they will sell the cylinders and get money, which could be helpful for the family.
Meanwhile, Sattari taluka block development officer Suryajirao Rane said that more than 500 beneficiaries in Sattari taluka have benefited from the energy scheme.
“The Goa government has made arrangements to provide free gas to BPL families under the energy scheme through the central government,” he said.
He stated that regarding the complaints of refilling, he has taken up the issue with the senior officials.
