13 hrs ago

LPG affordability and formal access limit migrant clean-cooking use

India has helped more families get LPG for cooking, but many still cannot use it regularly.

LPG is a cleaner cooking fuel than firewood and other solid fuels.

Many migrant users do not have official connections, which can make refills more expensive.

Fewer than 4% of the migrant users surveyed were enrolled in the government’s Ujjwala scheme.

The study found that at least 80% of the surveyed groups would use only LPG if a refill cost ₹400.

The current subsidised price for some Ujjwala users is about ₹642.

Rural families also face problems getting cylinders delivered to their homes.

Researchers suggested more subsidy support, easier enrolment and better delivery services.

Key facts

Survey coverage: More than 2,200 rural households, over 1,100 informal-settlement households and more than 1,000 migrant workers were surveyed.
Migrant formal-connection gap: 79% of migrant LPG users surveyed lacked a formal connection.
PMUY enrolment: Fewer than 4% of surveyed migrant LPG users were enrolled under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana.
Affordability threshold: At least 80% of respondents said they would use LPG exclusively if a 14.2-kg refill cost ₹400.
Current effective price: The effective subsidised PMUY cylinder price was ₹642, compared with a median willingness to pay of ₹500.
Rural usage: Although 73% of rural households used LPG in the previous 90 days, only 23% used it exclusively.
Informal migrant pricing: Migrants using informal connections paid ₹71 per kg, compared with ₹59 per kg through formal connections.

financialexpress.com · 13 hrs ago