Elite should be more liberal in giving up LPG subsidy: Dharmendra Pradhan

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has exhorted the affluent class to be more liberal in giving up their LPG subsidy as a study draws a grim picture of their contribution towards the scheme.

"We did a sample study (taking one lakh sample size) of those giving up LPG subsidy. Only three per cent of people who gave up their subsidy, were earning more than Rs 10 lakh," Pradhan said addressing TalentNomics-ICRIER Conference on Empowering Women for Sustainable Development.

"The Country has limited budget. We have to target it. Whom do we give subsidy? Should the affluent section of society take away the subsidy? Or poor women should get this subsidy. This is also related to sustainable development and empowerment of women," he added.

There have been strict instructions that those earning more than Rs 10 lakh a year should give up LPG subsidy. But it is more of middle and lower middle class people like retired teachers or employees who are doing so, he said.

The minister said more than 8.5 million people have voluntarily given up their subsidy so far.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged people to give up LPG subsidy so that it could be allotted to poor deserving family.

The Oil Ministry took this initiative under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to connect 50 million below poverty line people with the LPG supplies over next three years. The connection under the scheme is provided in the name of woman of the household.

"Each district will be looked after by an oil marketing company and 50 per cent beneficiaries would be women. These villages will be made smokeless and 100 per cent LPG-connected," the minster said.

Government has provided Rs 2,000 crore for the purpose in the Budget for the next fiscal.

"Having more women leaders in all sectors of economy will have significant positive impact on the female participation in the labour force which is a key to sustainable development," TalentNomics Founder and CEO Ipsita Kathuria said while addressing the conference.

Women need to be in leadership position not because it is right or fair thing to do but because it makes business and economic sense, she said.

"Data supports that women participation impacts GDP. At the current rate of change, the World Economic Forum estimates that it will take 117 years before women around the world can expect equal fate," she said.