IOC to organise 'LPG Panchayats' in Assam

Guwahati: In a bid to ensure new LPG connections and spread awareness about its usage in Assam, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd is set to organise 296 'LPG Panchayats' in the state on Friday, a senior company official said.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has decided to observe 'Ujjwala Diwas' on April 20 as a part of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (GSA), and the key activity will include the 296 LPG Panchayats, IOC Assam Oil Division's Chief General Manager Uttiya Bhattacharya told reporters here yesterday.

IOC endeavours to ensure new LPG connections in 3,042 villages in 27 districts of Assam to make them smokeless under the GSA, which was launched on April 14 and will continue till May 5.

In Assam, the total penetration of LPG connections is 64.8 per cent in an estimated 71.39 lakh households, and during the last financial year, 14.50 lakh new connections were added, he said.

The GSA campaign is a special initiative under the 'Sabka Sath Sabka Gaon Sabka Vikas' initiative of the Centre to promote safe and sustained use of LPG, and connections to all households.

"Each LPG Panchayat aims to bring together about 500 women from the neighhbouring areas, and women who have already benefited from the scheme will share information on benefits of LPG connections and on safety measures," Bhattacharya said.