Next leg of Ujjwala to kick off in May; Centre to focus on affordability

Five years after its launch, the scheme seems to have run into a fresh problem: affordability

The next phase of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will kick off in May this year after the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) ends.

The MCC has been in force since February 26, ahead of key Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. It is expected to remain in force till May 4, the last day of polls.

According to senior oil ministry officials, the PMUY scheme is applicable nationwide and requires extensive dissemination. This is not possible with the MCC being in force, which debars the Centre from introducing and advertising any new welfare