PM Modi launches Ujjwala 2.0 for providing free LPG connections
Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched Ujjwala 2.0 -- the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) -- by handing over LPG connections in Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh, and said his government's aim is to ensure that benefit of the country's resources reach all.
"As we will be celebrating 75th year of Independence this year and look at the progress in the past seven-and-a-half decades, we feel that some situation and conditions should have changed decades ago," the prime minister said in his address after the launch.
"For many fundamental needs such as road, power, hospital, cooking gas, school, water, home, people of the country had to wait for decades. This is unfortunate and women suffered the most due to this," he said.
"How could the country become self-reliant without self-confidence," he added.
After the formal launch, the prime minister distributed free gas connections to 10 women virtually.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath handed over the documents to the women on behalf of the PM.
Interacting with the women beneficiaries, the prime minister said, "Before 2014, people had to take rounds of government offices for taking benefit of any scheme."
"Our attempt is to ensure that benefits of schemes or resources reach all," he added.
During Ujjwala 1.0 launched in 2016, a target was set to provide LPG connections to five crore women members of BPL households.
Subsequently, the scheme was expanded in April 2018 to include women beneficiaries from seven more categories such as SC and ST communities and forest dwellers.
Also, the target was revised to eight crore LPG connections. This was achieved in August 2019, seven months ahead of schedule, officials said.
In the Union Budget for 2021-22, provision for an additional one crore LPG connection under the scheme was announced.
These one crore additional connections under Ujjwala 2.0 aim to provide deposit-free LPG connections to those low-income families who could not be covered under the earlier phase of PMUY.
Along with a deposit-free LPG connection, Ujjwala 2.0 will provide first refill and hotplate free of cost to the beneficiaries. The enrolment procedure will require minimum paperwork. In Ujjwala 2.0, migrants will not be required to submit ration cards or address proof, and a self-declaration will suffice, they said.
Ujjwala 2.0 will help achieve the prime minister's vision of universal access to LPG, it said.
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was also present on the occasion.
In his address, Puri said that the use of wood and coal for cooking has adverse effects on health of women.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
