Why in the News?

The International Energy Agency reports that 681 million people in India rely on solid fuels for cooking, causing health and environmental concerns. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) provides subsidized LPG connections to promote clean fuel adoption in Jammu and Kashmir.

What is Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)?

• The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) is a government scheme aimed at providing subsidized LPG connections to poor households, promoting clean cooking fuel, improving health, and reducing dependence on solid fuels.

What specific benefits has the PMUY provided to households in Jammu and Kashmir?

• Increased LPG Adoption: The PMUY scheme has significantly increased the availability of LPG in rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Around 85.07% of households in rural areas now have official LPG connections, with 68% of them having obtained these connections through PMUY.
• Health Benefits: PMUY adoption has led to a marked reduction in respiratory problems, such as coughing, chest infections, and headaches, particularly among BPL and AAY households.
  • Health improvements were more prominent in households with additional appliances like rice cookers and those with educated members.
• Reduction in Solid Fuel Usage: Although not completely eliminating the use of traditional fuels, the scheme has led to moderate reductions in the reliance on solid fuels like firewood. The average consumption of firewood per household was 226 kilograms over six months.
• Cultural and Health Improvements: For households that adopted LPG under PMUY, there was a noticeable reduction in indoor smoke exposure, leading to better health outcomes, especially for women who were primarily responsible for cooking.

How has the implementation of PMUY addressed local challenges related to fuel availability and usage?

• Enhanced Fuel Access: PMUY has addressed the issue of limited access to clean cooking fuel in rural areas by providing subsidized LPG connections. This has significantly reduced the reliance on harmful solid fuels, such as firewood, in many areas, particularly those with difficult topography like Rajouri.
• Dual-Fuel Usage and Financial Barriers: Despite increased LPG adoption, 85% of households still practice fuel stacking, using both LPG and traditional fuels. This is largely due to the high cost of refilling LPG cylinders. The scheme has not entirely solved financial barriers, which continue to force households to rely on cheaper, polluting fuels.
• Awareness and Education Gaps: One of the key challenges to exclusive LPG use is the lack of awareness about its health benefits. Nearly half of the surveyed households were unaware of the risks associated with solid fuel use. This barrier has been compounded by limited access to communication devices, such as televisions and mobile phones, particularly for women who are the primary cooks.
• Cultural Attachment to Traditional Cooking Methods: Despite the availability of LPG, traditional cooking methods (e.g., chulhas) continue to persist in the region due to cultural attachment. This presents a challenge in transitioning entirely to clean cooking fuels.
  • However, the study found that households with educated members and modern appliances like rice cookers were more likely to use LPG exclusively.

Way forward: 

• Targeted Awareness Campaigns: Launch region-specific awareness programs, particularly for women, highlighting the health benefits of LPG and addressing misconceptions, while utilizing mobile and community outreach for wider reach.
• Financial Support for LPG Refills: Introduce subsidies or microfinance schemes to ease the financial burden of LPG refills, encouraging exclusive use of clean fuels and reducing reliance on harmful solid fuels.

Mains PYQ:

Q Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. (UPSC IAS/2018)

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