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176 Economic Survey 2021-22

the Essential Commodities Act to declare ‘Soya Meal’ as an Essential Commodities up to 30th June,
2022 by amending the Schedule of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Stock limit on Soya Meal
has been imposed for a period from 23rd December, 2021 upto 30th June, 2022.

Perishable essential commodities
l For perishables, Operations Green scheme was launched in November 2018. The scheme has later
been expanded from TOP (Tomato, Onion, Potato) to TOTAL (41 perishables). Expansion of the
scheme has resulted in widening the impact in terms of the production clusters and beneficiaries
covered. Currently, 41 perishables from 52 production clusters are being covered. Since beginning
till 15.12.2021, Rs.65.79 crore has been provided so far as subsidy towards transportation/storage
of 3.05 lakh MT of TOP crops, the expansion of scheme has resulted in additional transportation/
storage of 2.82 lakh MT of crops other than TOP with additional subsidy of Rs.51.55 crore.
l Kisan Rail trains introduced to enable speedy movement of perishables from production or
surplus regions to consumption or deficient regions. Since the launch of first Kisan Rail service
on 7th August 2020 and up to 14th January 2022, Indian Railways have operated 1,900 Kisan
Rail services, transporting approximately 6.23 lakh tons of perishables including fruits and
vegetables.

Box 3: Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Kerosene price trend

LPG

The prices of petroleum products in the country are linked to the price of respective products in
the international market. Prices of LPG in the country are based on Saudi Contract Price (CP), the
benchmark for international prices of LPG. Saudi CP has risen approximately 258 per cent from
April, 2020 to November, 2021 (236 USD to 846 USD).

LPG subsidy is governed under Direct Benefit Transfer for LPG consumers (DBTL) scheme, wherein
the subsidy on domestic LPG is regulated based on direction of price trends in international market.
Since May, 2020, there is no subsidy to the consumers on Domestic LPG (at Delhi Market). However,
in far-flung areas and some other markets, there is some subsidy that varies from market to market
mainly due to higher inland freight from port to bottling plant.
In order to provide clean cooking fuel to poor households, in May 2016 the Government launched
“Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana” (PMUY) scheme to provide 5 crore deposit-free LPG connections,
subsequently increased to 8 crore. The target of Scheme was achieved in September, 2019, 7 months
ahead of the target. Implementation of PMUY majorly contributed to increase in national LPG
coverage to from 61.9 per cent as on 01.04.2016 to 99.8 per cent as on 01.04.2021. Further, in budget
speech made on 1st February, 2021, announcement was made to cover additional 1 crore beneficiaries
under Ujjwala scheme. In its revised version, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana was launched as
Ujjwala 2.0, by Hon. Prime Minister in August 2021. While it covers all existing eligible categories
of beneficiaries, Ujjwala 2.0 makes specific relaxations for migrants who can submit a simple self-
declaration as an address-proof, arranging which used to be a major hassle for migrant. Also, free
first refill and stove is being provided to all Ujjwala 2.0 beneficiaries. As on 31.12.2021, a total
of 96 lakh deposit-free LPG connections have been released under Ujjwala 2.0 scheme, including
2.2 lakh for migrants.