Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has admitted that there is a need to provide the rural poor with some subsidy to ensure clean cooking fuel in every Indian household.

Speaking at the International Seminar on Energy Access on Monday, Mr. Singh said that providing some fuel subsidy to the poor in rural India was a part of the government's majestic plan to ensure energy to all.

Mr. Singh admitted that providing every household with clean cooking fuel is a huge task, but he stressed that it is not unachievable.

Making the inaugural address, he said, "We aim to provide every Indian household with clean cooking fuel. This is a huge task but it is not unattainable. It is something we must do on priority."

Nearly 12 per cent of about 190 million rural households in the country use LPG to meet their cooking energy requirements.

In addition to providing subsidy on LPG to the rural poor, the government is aims to ensure around-the-clock electricity supply to all households in the country at affordable prices in the coming five years.

The Prime Minister's comments have come as the government is still under fire for its decision of putting a cap of six on the number of subsidized LPG cylinders per household.

Mr. Singh also announced that the government was mulling plans to transfer the amount of subsidy straight to bank accounts of bonafide beneficiaries.