Siliguri, 21st June: In Siliguri’s Simulbari area, located under Champasari Gram Panchayat adjacent to Ward No. 46 of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC), cases of scam in connection with the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. This government scheme aims to provide free gas cylinders to underprivileged women across the country.
According to reports, several rural women have been charged substantial amounts of money under the guise of the Ujjwala scheme. Despite not receiving the gas cylinders through the program, these women are still receiving subsidies. Allegations have been made by women from the Simulbari area that they were forced to pay between Rs. 500 to 1200 for gas cylinders that were supposed to be provided for free under the Ujjwala scheme.
One resident of Simulbari shared her experience, stating that she had applied for the Ujjwala Yojana one and a half years ago but has yet to receive the gas cylinder. However, for the past three months, she has been receiving Rs. 233 as a subsidy in her bank account. She alleged that the gas cylinder allocated in her name has been given to someone else.
Similar accusations have been made against a gas distributor in Debidanga, where individuals claim to have been charged money for gas cylinders under the Ujjwala scheme without receiving any official receipts.