Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali Tuesday rolled outPradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana(PMUY) scheme for Districts Ganderbal and Bandipora by symbolic distribution of gas coupons amongBelow Poverty Line (BPL) women here at Ganderbal.Zulfkar Ali highlighting the aim of the scheme said it will save the women from chronic diseases that they incur by using unclean fuel during cooking, an official spokesperson said this evening.He said under the scheme women living under BPL category would use gas instead of firewood for cooking. Giving reference from health report published by World Health Organization (WHO), the Minister saidthat more than five lakh women die annually by using unclean fuel for cooking. Therefore, the Minister said it was imperative that the issue be addressed.PMUY, the Minister said initially J&K was not included in the list of the States that were entitled to get benefit of the scheme.However, he said it was after the intervention of Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti that Centre extended the scheme to our State also.The Minister said that being connected with the people at the grass root level, the CM fully understands the problems women face in our State.The scheme was officially launched by the Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti on September 28th at SKICC.The Minister informed the gathering that in comparison to the 16 lakh gas connections that were provided to the State beneficiariesin last 70 years, so far around one lakh women falling under BPL category have received their gas connections under PMUY from its launch.The Minister said that the Government is also planning to start new gas agencies that will be within the radius of 15-20 KM so that the inconvenience people face while fetching their refill gas cylinders is resolved.Appreciating peoples support, the Minister said that while he appreciated the phenomenal role his departmental employees played in doing their duties in lastfew months, he is also great-full to people in general who ensured that our distribution process goes on without any disruption.The Minister added that the department in future would also continue to work with the same zeal to ensure people receive the essential commodities on time.Minister for Education Naeem Akhtar congratulating Zulfkar Ali for launching the scheme in Ganderbal said that the district deserves all the praise for not only getting the scheme, “but for also maintaining the peace”.He said, “District Ganderbal remained the most peaceful area despite unrest in the Valley.” He appreciated the people for ensuring the smooth completion of Amarnath Yatra, the spokesperson added.The Minister “questioned the wisdom in not allowing schools to open when all the businesses go on”. “If we have a political conflict, we should all irrespective of our backgrounds make a resolution that our educational institutions remain open so that our children do not remain aloof from their education.”Appreciating FCS&CA, the Minister said that despite the tough times the two departments that delivered their duties without any failure were FCS&CA, and PowerDevelopment Department.Earlier legislators Usman Majeed, and SheikhIshfaq Jabbar lauded Zulfkar Ali and his department for ensuring continuous supply of essential supplies despite unrest.Later, the Minister also held a review meeting with the district administration, and departmental officers where he issued various directions to them for ensuring that people do not face any kind of difficulty in receiving essential items.