SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that its Budget 2026-27 announcement to provide six free domestic LPG refills annually to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families is still under consideration, with the modalities of the scheme yet to be finalised.
The government made the disclosure in response to a starred question raised by MLA Sajad Gani Lone, who sought details about AAY beneficiaries, ration cards, additions and deletions in the beneficiary list and the status of the proposed LPG assistance.
According to the government’s reply, the scheme envisages reimbursement of the refilling cost of six domestic LPG cylinders per year for AAY families through Aadhaar-enabled Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
However, the government said that necessary action for implementation was underway and various aspects and modalities of the scheme were still being examined.
The exact financial implication will be worked out only after the scheme is finalised, while no specific implementation timeline has been indicated.
8.79 lakh AAY beneficiaries recorded on January 1, 2025
The annexures attached to the government’s reply show that 8,79,112 beneficiaries were covered under the AAY category across Jammu and Kashmir as on January 1, 2025.
Of these, 2,74,695 beneficiaries were in Jammu Division, while 6,04,417 were in Kashmir Division.
In Jammu Division, the district-wise figures included 32,104 beneficiaries in Jammu, 7,445 in Samba, 26,477 in Kathua, 19,482 in Udhampur, 30,000 in Reasi, 34,532 in Doda, 17,047 in Ramban, 19,782 in Kishtwar, 40,063 in Rajouri and 39,917 in Poonch, according to Annexure A.
In Kashmir Division, the figures show 1,20,671 beneficiaries in Kupwara, 1,09,815 in Baramulla, 40,307 in Bandipora, 22,613 in Ganderbal, 26,450 in Srinagar, 68,785 in Budgam, 59,063 in Pulwama, 28,149 in Shopian, 48,619 in Kulgam and 79,945 in Anantnag, taking the division’s total to 6,04,417.
Kupwara records 1.20 lakh AAY beneficiaries
Among Kashmir districts, Kupwara accounted for 1,20,671 AAY beneficiaries, including 14,969 in Karnah, 9,376 in Trehgam, 25,819 in Kupwara, 18,995 in Lolab, 34,320 in Handwara and 17,192 in Langate.
Baramulla had 1,09,815 beneficiaries, with Uri accounting for 37,787, Sopore 14,164, Rafiabad 14,083, Gulmarg 15,665, Wagoora-Kreeri 9,985 and Pattan 10,613, besides Baramulla constituency’s 7,518.
Anantnag had 79,945 beneficiaries, while Budgam had 68,785 and Pulwama 59,063.
Ration-card data also provided
The government’s annexures also contain constituency-wise details of AAY ration-card holders following verification and re-verification of AAY, PHH and NPHH categories.
For Jammu Division, the annexure records 83,953 AAY ration cards, covering 2,98,300 AAY beneficiaries, alongside PHH and NPHH categories.
The data shows, among others, 1,543 AAY ration cards in Nagrota, 1,624 in Akhnoor, 1,857 in Chhamb, 924 in Bishnah and 980 in Suchetgarh.
In Kashmir, the constituency-wise statement records 1,44,339 AAY ration-card holders against 6,04,417 beneficiaries.
Over 9,500 additions and deletions recorded
The government has also furnished constituency-wise details of additions and deletions in the AAY category since January 1, 2025.
For Jammu Division, the annexure records 1,281 additions and 6,311 deletions.
In Kashmir Division, the corresponding figures are 12,718 additions and 3,332 deletions.
The constituency-level data shows considerable variation. In Kashmir, for instance, Uri recorded 720 additions and 102 deletions, while Baramulla recorded 212 additions and 53 deletions. Budgam recorded 509 additions and four deletions, while Beerwah recorded 1,149 additions and six deletions.
In Jammu Division, Kathua recorded 196 additions and 930 deletions, while Udhampur recorded no additions and 4,273 deletions across its constituencies. Reasi recorded 260 additions and 66 deletions.
The government has not, however, linked these changes directly to the proposed LPG benefit.
No number of free refills provided so far
On the specific question of how many free LPG cylinders had already been provided to AAY beneficiaries under the Budget announcement, the government did not report any distribution figure.
Instead, it said that the proposal to provide the cost of six free domestic LPG refills annually through Aadhaar-enabled DBT was under implementation process, with its modalities still being examined.
The department said the financial implication of the scheme would be determined after finalisation of the scheme.
The reply was submitted by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in response to the Assembly question.
