90 lakh people give up LPG subsidies in one year: Government

More than 90 lakh people have given up their LPG subsidies since the 'Give it up' initiative was first rolled out a year ago. 

The government's Twitter handle for the 'Give it up' programme tweeted thanking "millions of citizens" for surrendering their LPG subsidy.

A big Thank You to millions of citizens who have surrendered their LPG subsidy #GiveItUp @narendramodi @dpradhanbjp pic.twitter.com/OjhzW5TyAD

— GiveItUp (@GiveItUp) March 27, 2016

On March 27, 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the "well-off" of the nation to give up their LPG subsidy so that it can benefit those in dire need. The aim was also to bring down the country's dependence on energy imports by 10% by 2022. 

Urging the wealthy, Modi had said, "gas cylinders surrendered by them would be transferred to the poor who use wood for cooking. If one crore people give up their LPG subsidy, one crore poor people will benefit as they will be given new LPG cylinders instead."

Back then, Modi said that 2.8 lakh people giving up their LPG subsidy would lead to a benefit of at least Rs 100 crore. Now the government has revealed that 90 lakh people have given up their subsidies.

"People who surrendered their subsidy are not rich people and comprised even retired persons. This has helped many poor people," Modi said earlier.

The government also rolled out the direct benefit transfer system for LPG subsidies, saying that transferring the benefit to the bank accounts directly helped the government save Rs 15,000 crore in 2015.

(With inputs from agencies)