SRINAGAR, September 25, 2026 – Fulfilling a key commitment made earlier this year during the budget session, the Jammu and Kashmir government has formally approved the rollout of a welfare scheme providing six free LPG cooking gas cylinders annually to families classified under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). The formal approval marks a significant step toward providing direct economic relief to the region’s most vulnerable households. The announcement was made by Satish Sharma, the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, on the floor of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly during the ongoing Autumn Session on Thursday. Drawing applause from the treasury benches, Minister Sharma confirmed that the competent authority had cleared the policy and that the necessary operational orders for rolling out the scheme would be issued shortly.
The initiative was first proposed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while presenting his second budget as Finance Minister in February, where he emphasized the need to ease the household expenditure on essential cooking fuel for economically disadvantaged families. Following the Minister’s announcement in the Assembly, Chief Minister Abdullah reiterated that this key policy aims to ensure a dignified life for vulnerable sections, reinforcing the administration’s broader commitment to social justice and sustained public welfare. The provision will directly assist thousands of AAY households across the Union Territory, significantly reducing their energy burden by providing sustained access to clean cooking fuel.
However, the official announcement also sparked significant political friction within the Legislative Assembly. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) heavily criticized the National Conference-led government, accusing the ruling party of misleading the electorate. Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, aggressively pointed out that during the recent election campaigns, the ruling party had promised to deliver 12 free cylinders to every household, not just a restricted quota of six cylinders exclusively for AAY families. Terming the current policy a “betrayal of the poor,” BJP legislators disrupted the proceedings with loud slogans, leading to a heated exchange with the treasury benches until Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened to restore order and continue the day’s legislative business.
Published by True Roots Media Network