On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday announced that his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has decided to reduce LPG cylinder prices by Rs 100.
“This will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting our Nari Shakti,” the prime minister wrote in X (formerly Twitter).
He added, “By making cooking gas more affordable, we also aim to support the well-being of families and ensure a healthier environment. This is in line with our commitment to empowering women and ensuring ‘Ease of Living’ for them.”
Last year, the Union Cabinet had reduced the price of a 14.2 kg LPG cooking gas cylinder by Rs 200, as a gift for the women ahead of Raksha Bandhan. The reduction in price was also applicable to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
Till August 2023, a 14.2kg LPG (liquified petroleum gas) cylinder in the national capital cost Rs 1,103. However, after the price cut, the rate came down to Rs 903.
For beneficiaries of the PM’s Ujjwala scheme, last year’s reduced price was Rs 703. In March 2023, the government had extended a Rs 200 per LPG cylinder subsidy under the PM Ujjwala scheme.
A recent report by Reuters had explained how women, who were traditionally Congress voters, shifted to support Narendra Modi due to BJP’s focus on women’s welfare, including cash handouts and domestic benefits such as piped water, 24/7 electricity and cooking gas connection.
The report stated that traditionally Indian women were more inclined to vote for Congress, the main opposition party, in part because it gave a country short of female role models its first woman prime minister, Indira Gandhi.
The BJP, meanwhile, was born out of a men-only organisation and, with a patriarchal image, struggled to attract women, Reuters mentioned.
The report then goes on to say that Modi has changed that in his 10 years in power and the increased support from women is an added assurance for a party that is widely expected to dominate the ballot box.
Polling agency C-voter told Reuters its surveys predict 46% of India’s 472 million women voters would opt for the BJP-led alliance in the election against 43% men, which would help it get a healthy majority in India’s first-past-the-post polling system. The Election Commission says a higher percentage of women, as opposed to men, are likely to vote in this year’s election for the second time after the 2019 poll.
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