According to figures of the Civil Supplies Department, the number of consumers using subsidized kerosene for cooking has come down from 1.25 lakh to 13,300.
The reason for the drop is because of the launch of a special drive initiated by the department in June. The aim was to identify those without LPG connection and using kerosene as cooking fuel. The data has now been shared with oil companies to cross check figures related to LPG users in order to ensure accuracy.
These individuals using kerosene are encouraged to shift to LPG with the aid of the centrally-run Ujwala scheme. Under this Scheme, the government aims to provide LPG connections to BPL households in the country. The scheme is aimed at replacing the unclean cooking fuels mostly used in the rural India with the clean and more efficient LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).The department till date, has been receiving applications which may push up the numbers to 20,000 at the end of the month.
Apart from LPG and kerosene, many villagers and tribal communities still use firewood as fuel. As the Census 2011 report points out that less than 50 per cent of tribal households have access to cooking gas.
