Managing Ujjwala in the times of volatile fuel prices

How do we ensure the good intentions of giving affordable clean fuels to poor women while managing subsidy burden? Jyoti Parikh asks

While petrol and diesel prices are breathing fire and have become a subject of daily news, the LPG front is quiet. The price increase of Rs 15-20 per litre on transport fuels over the last few months is a subject of intense conversation, but the increase of cylinder prices from Rs 650 to Rs 820 (14.2 kg) is not, because the increase is absorbed fully by the central government through a subsidy of Rs 320 per cylinder. Transport fuels are bringing windfalls to the Centre and state finances as they include high taxes on a percentage basis: the higher the