Telangana Expands Gas Cylinder Subsidy: 4.6 Lakh New Families Benefit From Mahalakshmi Scheme

The Telangana government has made significant strides with its Mahalakshmi gas cylinder subsidy scheme, extending its reach to an additional 4.6 lakh families. This latest development brings the total number of beneficiaries to over 44.10 lakh across the state. The scheme offers a subsidy of Rs. 500 per cylinder to eligible ration card holders, aiming to ease the financial burden on households by reducing the cost of gas cylinders.

Since its launch on February 27, the Mahalakshmi scheme has disbursed subsidies for 76.64 lakh cylinders, totaling Rs. 227.42 crores. Initially, the scheme started with 39.50 lakh families as beneficiaries. However, recent updates show a notable increase, with an additional 4.6 lakh families now included. This expansion is attributed to recent amendments in public administration centers, which have streamlined the application process and allowed more families to qualify for the subsidy.

Despite the expansion, challenges persist. Out of the 91.49 lakh people who applied, some applications were either not registered or were incomplete, such as providing incorrect IDs or having multiple gas connections. These issues impacted the number of eligible beneficiaries. To address these problems, the government has directed Civil Supplies Commissioner, DS Chauhan, to expedite the subsidy process, ensuring that payments are deposited into eligible consumers’ accounts within 48 hours. Previously, this process took four to five days.

The scheme’s benefits are being distributed across Telangana, with the highest number of beneficiaries in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area. Other districts such as Nalgonda, Khammam, and Nizamabad also have substantial numbers of beneficiaries. Even smaller districts, including Narayanapet, Bhupalapalli, Vanaparthi, and Asifabad, have seen significant participation, highlighting the scheme’s widespread impact.

Overall, the Mahalakshmi scheme continues to play a crucial role in supporting Telangana’s households by alleviating the financial strain associated with gas expenses.