Rural homemakers from most backward classes, forest dwellers, tea and ex-tea garden tribes, people residing in Majuli river island and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna (PMUY) beneficiaries on Friday expressed their dissatisfaction over LPG price hike.

On Wednesday, the government increased the price of LPG by Rs 144.50 per to Rs 149, highest in six years.

Most of the homemakers feel it’s like taking revenge on countrymen after the BJP’s poll rout in the Delhi elections.

“This has now brought a new challenge for the homemakers like us as the prices of the LPG cylinder have increased,” Prem Lata Moran, a PMUY beneficiary, said.

The oil ministry, in a statement, on Thursday justified the Rs 144.50 per cylinder, stating the rates are based on the international market price that had increased over 26 per cent last month. It also said domestic consumers have been largely insulated from the hike because of subsidy.

The government gives subsidy to LPG users under two heads — direct benefit transfer or PAHAL for domestic users and PMUY beneficiaries.

“Whatever we will get as subsidy is secondary thing, first from where will the money come to pay for a gas cylinder?” Meera Kumari, a homemaker whose husband is a farmer in Kokrajhar in lower Assam, said.

“For poor farmers’ families like us it is difficult to pay such a large amount at one go. When we collate all the price rises of essential commodities, then it makes a huge difference in the budget of a family. It becomes impossible for families to meet both the ends,” Mitali of Kordoiguri village said.

“Since I am the only bread winner and I hardly earn Rs 5,000 per month, I have no other option but to cook food once in a day and store it,” Maggie, who does jhum cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh, said.

The women’s wing of Assam Congress have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking measures to control the price hike of essential commodities, particularly of LPG.