Gone are the days when it was normalised for women to sit in smoke-filled kitchens, where their day revolved around the constant burning of firewood. Before 2016, with the launch of the PM Ujjwala Yojana, women endured respiratory diseases due to these smoke-filled environments, spending a significant amount of time collecting local firewood, cow dung, or other biomass sources.
With the PM Ujjwala Yojana, the smooth adoption of clean-cooking fuel is becoming a reality for many. This article elaborates on some direct and indirect impacts of the scheme, that have significantly transformed the lives of women and led the change towards a healthier lifestyle.
Impact on Health
Prime Minister Modi has also highlighted the harmful impact of smoke-filled kitchens on women’s health saying, “The direct impact of the (Ujjwala) scheme has been on reducing the health hazards caused due to burning of solid fuels like wood, cow dung and charcoal. According to a WHO report, the smoke inhaled by women using unclean fuel is equal to smoking 400 cigarettes in an hour. It also estimated that about 5 lakh deaths occur in India due to the use of unclean cooking fuels.” PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) has also received global recognition from the International Energy Agency (IEA) which has described it as a major achievement in improving the environment and health of women.
The 9.8 crore Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) connections released under Ujjwala Yojana have relatively freed women from respiratory illnesses. Thus, in many ways, the benefits reaped from the Ujjwala Yojana have not just enhanced women’s lives drastically, they have also saved many. To ensure wider coverage, the beneficiaries are selected from the Socio-Economic Caste Census list or people belonging to seven identified categories such as Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes households, Most Backward Classes and so on. It would be beneficial to note that 35.1 % of PMUY beneficiaries are from SC/ST categories (as of December 01, 2021).
Indirect impacts
Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, LPG coverage in India rose from 62% in 2016 to over 104% in 2022. This tremendous growth in the coverage of LPG connections under the scheme indicates the willingness of people to adopt a healthier alternative to stoves powered by firewood and coal.
Since the launch of Ujjwala 2.0 in 2021, over 1.8 crore connections have been released. The Ujjwala cylinder is largely seen as a generator of clean-cooking fuel which is in turn motivating people to opt for the scheme. The scheme not only aims to reduce harmful particulate matter (PM) to build a healthier environment in the village and in the household, but it also makes sure that women have more time to pursue other productive activities such as education, skilling and training thus leading to their contribution to the household income- thus leading to potentially holistic empowerment of women.
Empowerment Through Ownership
Did you know? All LPG connections released through the Ujjwala Yojana are in the name of women! With increased subsidies on LPG cylinders, a rise in access to clean-cooking fuels is also visible. The government has implemented various measures to promote the usage of LPG. These initiatives encompass a targeted subsidy of Rs. 200 per 14.2 kg refill for PMUY beneficiaries, applicable for up to 12 refills per year in the fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24. Additionally, there is an option for Ujjwala beneficiaries to switch from a 14.2 kg cylinder to a 5 kg one. Till now, 6.2 crore+ households have availed of the loan facility for the first refill. As more and more families opt for cleaner alternatives for smoke-less kitchens, a significant rise in total LPG sales is visible from over 17,000 TMT (Thousand Metric Tonnes) in FY 2014-15 to over 29,000 TMT in FY 2022-23, a growth of 66%.
It is essential to acknowledge that the utilisation of domestic LPG by households is influenced by various factors such as dietary preferences, household dimensions, cooking practices, pricing, and the accessibility of alternative fuels. The per capita consumption of Ujjwala beneficiaries, measured in terms of the number of 14.2 kg LPG cylinders utilised annually, has seen an increase from 3.01 (in FY 2019-20) to 3.71 (in FY 2022-23).
In conclusion, the PM Ujjwala Yojana has transcended its immediate health benefits while becoming a catalyst for social and economic empowerment. The scheme has not only transformed kitchens into healthier environments and helped reduce particulate matter, but it has also paved the way for a brighter, more empowered future for women across the nation. The strides made through the Ujjwala Yojana underscore the profound impact that targeted initiatives can have in shaping a healthier and more equitable society.
