Ujjwala scheme symbol of progress, says Modi
New Delhi, May 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with Ujjwala beneficiaries across the country through video-conferencing and said the scheme has become a symbol of progress.
Three Ujjwala beneficiaries were present at each of the over 600 centres across the country for this interaction.
Besides, an estimated 10 lakh people viewed the interaction through various platforms including Narendra Modi app, television channels and social media platforms, a government statement said.
Expressing happiness at being able to interact with the beneficiaries and share their experiences through technology, Modi said the scheme was driving remarkable social transformation and in turn influencing a holistic development of the country.
According to the government, approximately four crore women in rural areas have received LPG connections so far through the Ujjwala Yojana.
"In all, nearly 10 crore new LPG connections have been issued in the four years since 2014 as compared to 13 crore in the nearly six decade period from 1955 to 2014.
"Now, 69 per cent villages have 100 per cent LPG penetration, while 81 per cent villages have more than 75 per cent LPG penetration," the government said.
During the interaction, the Prime Minister pointed out that Ujjwala had brought about benefits through better health outcomes, freedom from poisonous smoke and cleaner fuel.
"Women now have a greater opportunity to earn extra income as time spent on cooking has got reduced," he said.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the government had been trying to ensure that there were no middlemen involved in this scheme and the beneficiaries were chosen through a transparent process.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismisses defence minister in surprise announcement
Jerusalem, Nov 5: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed his popular defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in a surprise announcement that came as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region.
Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. But Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival. Netanyahu cited “significant gaps” and a “crisis of trust” between the men in his Tuesday evening announcement.
“In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defence minister,” Netanyahu said. “Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defence minister.”
In the early days of the war, Israel's leadership presented a unified front as it responded to Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. But as the war dragged on and spread to Lebanon, key policy differences have emerged. While Netanyahu has called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Gallant had taken a more pragmatic approach, saying that military force has created the necessary conditions for a diplomatic deal that could bring home hostages held by the Hamas group.
Gallant, a former general who has gained public respect with a gruff, no-nonsense personality, said in a statement: “The security of the state of Israel always was, and will always remain, my life's mission."
Gallant has worn a simple, black buttoned shirt throughout the war in a sign of sorrow over the October 7 attack and developed a strong relationship with his US counterpart, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
A previous attempt by Netanyahu to fire Gallant in March 2023 sparked widespread street protests against Netanyahu. He also flirted with the idea of dismissing Gallant over the summer but held off until Tuesday's announcement.
Gallant will be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, a Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister who was a junior officer in the military. Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu rival who recently rejoined the government, will take the foreign affairs post.
Netanyahu has a long history of neutralising his rivals. In his statement, he claimed he had made “many attempts” to bridge the gaps with Gallant.
“But they kept getting wider. They also came to the knowledge of the public in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy - our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it,” he said.
