Socio-economic factors on choice of cooking fuel: understanding the antecedents and consequences of PMUY In India

Abstract The Government of India, in 2016 launched a a flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) which meant to make clean cooking fuel such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) available to economically marginalised households. The widespread adoption of PMUY has often been linked with envir...

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Main Authors: Hemlata Vivek Gaikwad, Suruchi Pandey, Vidya Kadam, Krishnaji Patil
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-06-01
Series:Discover Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01376-6
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author Hemlata Vivek Gaikwad
Suruchi Pandey
Vidya Kadam
Krishnaji Patil
author_facet Hemlata Vivek Gaikwad
Suruchi Pandey
Vidya Kadam
Krishnaji Patil
author_sort Hemlata Vivek Gaikwad
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Government of India, in 2016 launched a a flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) which meant to make clean cooking fuel such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) available to economically marginalised households. The widespread adoption of PMUY has often been linked with environmental sustainability, improvement in health, and economic empowerment of women in beneficiary households. However, there is a gap in research on the socio-economic antecedents of the long-term continuation of LPG refills under the scheme and its impact on women’s socio-economic and health outcomes. The present research aimed to study the intention on choice of LPG as cooking fuel and factors influencing in continuing the use. The study focussed on 40 blocks in five districts of Western Maharashtra, which are predominantly tribal and scheduled caste communities and considered moderately secure in food availability. Findings reveal that the policy has a significant improvement in the women’s economy and health through environmental sustainability and cooking time-saving. The socio-economic factors like income levels and education influence the adoption of LPG as a cooking fuel positively while, easy access to plant and cattle waste influences the effective reach of the scheme. However, the affordability of refills was found to be a critical issue. This study stands unique being the first to use primary data to assess the socio-economic factors influencing the choice of cooking fuel under PMUY. By integrating both behavioural and policy perspectives, the study provides novel insights into the program’s effectiveness and the persistent barriers to clean energy adoption.
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spelling doaj-art-9fbd801df7c64514bf834f2602cbaed02025-08-20T03:10:27ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842025-06-016111610.1007/s43621-025-01376-6Socio-economic factors on choice of cooking fuel: understanding the antecedents and consequences of PMUY In IndiaHemlata Vivek Gaikwad0Suruchi Pandey1Vidya Kadam2Krishnaji Patil3Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Symbiosis International (Deemed University)Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Symbiosis International (Deemed University)Rajarambapu Institute of TechnologyRajarambapu Institute of TechnologyAbstract The Government of India, in 2016 launched a a flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) which meant to make clean cooking fuel such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) available to economically marginalised households. The widespread adoption of PMUY has often been linked with environmental sustainability, improvement in health, and economic empowerment of women in beneficiary households. However, there is a gap in research on the socio-economic antecedents of the long-term continuation of LPG refills under the scheme and its impact on women’s socio-economic and health outcomes. The present research aimed to study the intention on choice of LPG as cooking fuel and factors influencing in continuing the use. The study focussed on 40 blocks in five districts of Western Maharashtra, which are predominantly tribal and scheduled caste communities and considered moderately secure in food availability. Findings reveal that the policy has a significant improvement in the women’s economy and health through environmental sustainability and cooking time-saving. The socio-economic factors like income levels and education influence the adoption of LPG as a cooking fuel positively while, easy access to plant and cattle waste influences the effective reach of the scheme. However, the affordability of refills was found to be a critical issue. This study stands unique being the first to use primary data to assess the socio-economic factors influencing the choice of cooking fuel under PMUY. By integrating both behavioural and policy perspectives, the study provides novel insights into the program’s effectiveness and the persistent barriers to clean energy adoption.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01376-6LPGSocially marginalisedTribalsEconomic empowermentRespiratory ailmentsClean fuel
spellingShingle Hemlata Vivek Gaikwad
Suruchi Pandey
Vidya Kadam
Krishnaji Patil
Socio-economic factors on choice of cooking fuel: understanding the antecedents and consequences of PMUY In India
Discover Sustainability
LPG
Socially marginalised
Tribals
Economic empowerment
Respiratory ailments
Clean fuel
title Socio-economic factors on choice of cooking fuel: understanding the antecedents and consequences of PMUY In India
title_full Socio-economic factors on choice of cooking fuel: understanding the antecedents and consequences of PMUY In India
title_fullStr Socio-economic factors on choice of cooking fuel: understanding the antecedents and consequences of PMUY In India
title_full_unstemmed Socio-economic factors on choice of cooking fuel: understanding the antecedents and consequences of PMUY In India
title_short Socio-economic factors on choice of cooking fuel: understanding the antecedents and consequences of PMUY In India
title_sort socio economic factors on choice of cooking fuel understanding the antecedents and consequences of pmuy in india
topic LPG
Socially marginalised
Tribals
Economic empowerment
Respiratory ailments
Clean fuel
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-025-01376-6
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AT vidyakadam socioeconomicfactorsonchoiceofcookingfuelunderstandingtheantecedentsandconsequencesofpmuyinindia
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