Ujjwala Yojana: A Reflection of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay's Integral Humanism in Economic Policy

Abstract

 

“Integral humanism” is an ideology given by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay which states that material growth alone is not enough for a human being. Along with material growth, a human being needs to grow spiritually (in values and principles). One of the most important principles of “integral humanism” is the principal of “Antyodaya”, which simply means that both the poorest and the richest sections of the society should have equal access to all the resources. It aims to include the poorest sections of the society in the process of growth and proposes that all the growth happening around us should be in harmony with society and nature. This ideology became the basis of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a government scheme launched by the government in 2016, under which the government aimed to provide free LPG connections to households living below the poverty line, especially to rural women. It not only aimed to help rural women save their time and efforts while cooking food but also had other aspects that include: