Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has announced a major household assistance programme that will provide three free LPG cylinders every year to eligible families in the state.
Named the “Annapoorani Super Six” scheme, the initiative is expected to cover nearly 1.30 crore families and will be implemented from the Pongal festival in January. The government has estimated that the programme will require an annual allocation of approximately Rs 4,000 crore.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries will purchase LPG cylinders through the existing distribution system. The cost of three cylinders annually will subsequently be credited directly to their registered bank accounts.
The direct benefit transfer mechanism is intended to ensure that financial assistance reaches eligible households without delay or the involvement of intermediaries.
Families with an annual income of up to Rs 2.5 lakh will be eligible to apply for the benefit. The scheme will primarily cover economically disadvantaged households, small and marginal farmers, families of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable sections of society.
The government announced the initiative in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly under Rule 110, which allows the Chief Minister to make statements on matters of public importance.
Detailed guidelines regarding the application process, verification of beneficiaries and disbursal of funds are expected to be issued before the scheme’s rollout.
The programme is aimed at reducing the financial burden caused by domestic cooking fuel expenses, particularly among low-income households.
Rising household expenditure has made the cost of LPG refills difficult for many families, sometimes forcing them to postpone purchases or depend on traditional cooking fuels. By covering the cost of three cylinders every year, the government expects to encourage sustained LPG use while providing direct financial relief to families.
The measure is also likely to benefit women, who are often most affected when households rely on firewood and other smoke-producing fuels for cooking.
The state government will have to undertake a large-scale verification exercise to identify eligible beneficiaries and link their LPG consumer details with bank accounts.
Coordination among revenue authorities, civil supplies officials, banks and oil marketing companies will be necessary for the smooth implementation of the programme.
Further information about registration, required documents and the schedule for transferring the subsidy is likely to be announced ahead of Pongal.
(IANS)
