Mangaluru : Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan has appreciated the Anila Bhagya scheme of the state government. At a meeting that Pradhan had with minister for food and civil supplies and consumer affairs U T Khader in Delhi on Tuesday, Pradhan said that the scheme is a good one as it enables many economically deprived families gain access to clean cooking fuel and other states too should emulate this scheme.

Pradhan also instructed Khader to include the union government too in branding the scheme for there is the role of the centre in rolling out the scheme as well. Khader assured the union minister that he will discuss this matter with the chief minister Siddaramaiah and take a call on it. Under the scheme, state government will provide two LPG cylinders and regulator free of cost to the beneficiaries. Pradhan urged Khader to reconsider this decision as well.

Khader also requested Pradhan to provide subsidized/free kerosene directly to fishermen. Pradhan said the union government will send a team of officials to carry out a survey and possibly pick Mangaluru for a pilot project in this regard. The pros and cons of such a move will be discussed threadbare and the scheme implemented thereafter, Pradhan said. Khader also urged him to take fishermen with smaller boats in to consideration during the survey and not just the bigger boats.