In July 1999, Naidu launched the Deepam scheme to provide LPG cooking gas connections to rural women, with a budget of ₹100 crore (equivalent to ₹365 crore or US$46 million in 2020). The central government agreed to provide one million LPG connections via this scheme. This scheme was later extended to urban areas by formally releasing the liquefied petroleum gas cylinders to some women beneficiaries. Under the scheme, the state government pays the security deposit of Rs 1,000 per connection to the oil company.