NEW DELHI: On International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a step to ease the economic strain on households, particularly women, by announcing a Rs 100 reduction in the prices of cooking gas cylinders.
This move follows the government’s decision to extend the subsidy of Rs 300 per LPG cylinder to economically disadvantaged women under the Ujjwala Yojana for the upcoming fiscal year, commencing on April 1.
Making the announcement on International Women’s Day, PM Modi stated that this reduction will notably alleviate the economic strain on millions of households across the country, with a particular emphasis on benefiting ‘Nari Shakti‘ (women power).
He highlighted that by making cooking gas more affordable, the government aims to contribute to the well-being of families and ensure a healthier environment. This initiative aligns with the commitment to empower women and ensure ‘Ease of Living‘ for them.
Today, on Women's Day, our Government has decided to reduce LPG cylinder prices by Rs. 100. This will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting our Nari Shakti.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2024
By making cooking gas more affordable, we also aim…
NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule commented that the announcement doesn’t come as a surprise, given the upcoming elections. She expressed skepticism about the timing, questioning why the government didn’t consider this earlier during its nine years in power. Sule suggested that the announcement, coming just before the elections, could be seen as another political move. She also compared the current cylinder price with the past, stating that during their government, the cylinder cost Rs 430 and suggested that the current government should match that.
In another post on X, Modi greeted people on the International Women’s Day.
“We salute the strength, courage, and resilience of our Nari Shakti and laud their accomplishments across various fields. Our government is committed to empowering women through initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, agriculture, technology and more,” he said.
Greetings on International Women's Day! We salute the strength, courage, and resilience of our Nari Shakti and laud their accomplishments across various fields. Our government is committed to empowering women through initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, agriculture,…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2024
The subsidy increase was implemented in October last year and is set to continue until March 31. PM Modi highlighted these initiatives as part of the government’s accomplishments over the past decade.