AP Dussehra Gift: 3 lakh Gas connections to women
VISAKHAPATNAM/HYDERABAD: There is good news for women in the 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh. As a Dussehra offer, the state government on Tuesday announced three lakh liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) connections under the Deepam scheme for women in the state.
Visakhapatnam district will get 25,000 connections, while Srikakulam and Vizianagaram have been sanctioned 19,000 and 16,200 connections, respectively. Kadapa district has received the lowest number of connections of 14,697.
Deputy chief minister Nimmakayala China Rajappa told TOI that the state government took a decision to release new connections for the benefit of women.
The department of consumer affairs, food and civil supplies released a GO Ms No 14 on Tuesday sanctioning around three lakh LPG connections to women below the poverty line under the Deepam scheme for the year 2014-15.
Sanjay Jaju, ex-office secretary to the state government, said beneficiaries will be selected as per the guidelines of the department, and LPG distributors of public sector undertaking oil companies will release the connections to the beneficiaries on a priority basis.
The Deepam scheme was launched in the state on July 9, 1999 for distribution of LPG connections to women from below poverty line. As on date, Visakhapatnam district alone has 2,92,525 LPG connections under the scheme.
Andhra Pradesh LPG Distributors Association executive member B Sridhar said the state government will pay Rs 1,500 as deposit on each LPG connection under the scheme. The beneficiaries will have to contribute Rs 435 towards cost of gas, Rs 200 as installation charges and Rs 170 for the rubber tube.
When contacted, Visakhapatnam joint collector Pravin Kumar said he did not go through the government order on Deepam scheme yet.
-TOI
