New Delhi, April 16: Over 1.5 crore free cooking gas (LPG) cylinders have been distributed in the last two weeks as part of the government's stimulus aimed at helping poor tide over hardships of lockdown, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Thursday.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY), several relief measures have been announced by the central government for the welfare of poor, one of them being providing three LPG cylinders (14.2 kg) free to over 8 crore beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana (PMUY) between April and June. Dharmendra Pradhan Says 'An Estimated Investment of USD 60 Billion Lined Up for Developing Gas Infrastructure'.

An official statement said that for the seamless implementation of the scheme, the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have been transferring an advance equal to the retail selling price of cylinder to the accounts of beneficiaries. The beneficiaries use this money to buy LPG refill.

"More than 1.51 crore free LPG cylinders have been distributed so far to the PMUY beneficiaries," it quoted Pradhan as saying at a review meeting called to discuss the implementation of the scheme here. The OMCs are distributing 50 to 60 lakh cylinders per day, which includes about 18 lakh free cylinders to PMUY beneficiaries.

Pradhan took part in a webinar with over 800 LPG cylinder delivery boys.

Describing the LPG delivery boys as the frontline soldiers and corona fighters in the time of unprecedented crisis due to the pandemic, he said the whole nation acknowledges their contributions.

Appreciating their sincerity, hard work and dedication to the duty, he called upon them to take due precautions while discharging their duties. "Many LPG delivery boys shared their experiences during these difficult times. They said that the companies have provided them with the protection kit which includes soap, sanitizer, mask and gloves," the statement said. "They also sanitize their cylinders before delivery, and also maintain social distancing while delivering the cylinder," it added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)