Transitioning to cleaner cooking fuels: Challenges faced by rural women and recommendations for sustainable adoption under Ujjwala Yojana

Abstract

Access to clean cooking energy remains a persistent challenge in rural India, with significant implications for women’s health, environmental sustainability, and social equity. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), launched in 2016, was envisioned as a transformative initiative aimed at enabling access to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for economically disadvantaged households, particularly in rural areas. Despite the wide distribution of LPG connections under PMUY, sustained and exclusive adoption remains elusive. This study, based in Udaipur district of Rajasthan, investigates the challenges rural women face in transitioning to cleaner cooking fuels. Employing primary data sourced through interviews with 100 rural women (50 LPG users and 50 non-users), the study reveals that high refill costs, supply chain inefficiencies, and ingrained cultural preferences remain major barriers to full adoption. Additionally, a lack of safety awareness and limited understanding of LPG handling pose risks and discourage consistent use. The study advocates for a more holistic and inclusive policy framework that thoughtfully considers the economic, behavioral, and infrastructural barriers affecting sustained LPG adoption. It emphasizes the importance of tailoring interventions to the lived realities of rural women, ensuring that clean cooking transitions are not only accessible but also practical and sustainable in the long term. Recommendations include enhancing refill subsidies, expanding last-mile delivery services, and conducting targeted awareness and safety education campaigns. By foregrounding women's voices and lived experiences, this research paper advances the discourse on sustainable energy transitions and gender-sensitive policy making in India.