The government on Wednesday raised the subsidy provided to poor women, who got free cooking gas connections under the Ujjwala Yojana, to Rs 300 per cylinder as it looked to blunt opposition criticism of high fuel prices.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs raised the subsidy from Rs 200 per 14.2-kg cylinders for up to 12 refils per year to Rs 300 per bottle, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters here.
The move will benefit 9.6 crore families.
Ahead of assembly elections in five states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the government had in late August cut cooking gas price by Rs 200 per cylinder. After this, LPG cylinder price came down to Rs 903.
