Guess who joined the #GiveItUp campaign

Actor Amitabh Bachchan has joined over 30 lakh people in the government run high-voltage #GiveItUp media campaign. Through the campaign Narendra Modi is urging well-off citizens to give up subsidy so that the funds can be utilised to offer clean fuel to poor households.

Many top industry executives have also given up their liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidy and urged other employees to do the same.

A drop in oil prices has sharply brought down the subsidy consumers receive these days, making it psychologically easier for them to give up. In Delhi, the current subsidy is about Rs 140 per cylinder. India has about 19 crore LPG consumers but the penetration in rural areas is still poor, forcing households to depend on firewood and other cheaper fuels which are hazardous to health.

Government has also got most of the LPG consumers to join the direct cash transfer scheme, ensuring subsidy reaches the subscribers' bank accounts and leakage is plugged. This has reduced subsidy bill for the centre and cut diversion of subsidised gas for commercial use.

(Image credits: Indiatimes)