WOMEN AND ENERGY
Women are intrinsically part of the process of rural
energy requirements, as they are engaged in provision of vital
amenities, such as safe and sufficient water for domestic needs, fodder
for cattle, farming activities and so forth.. Women and energy have a
strong relationship, for they are the ones who work more to source it
and utilise it.
Drudgery is involved even in meeting the basic energy requirements, as
women and children need to work hard in collection of firewood. In
cases where there is limited availability of fuel wood, the food habits
of the family changes which in turn affects its nutritional
requirements. Women spend up to six hours a day in household chores
while the young children stay with them. Inefficient use of biomass in
the traditional stoves coupled with insufficient ventilation causes
severe health hazards, and most of it affects women, and female
children.
Indoor pollution ups cardiac risk among
women
Is there a way out…….
Use of energy efficient smokeless chulhas and use of cleaner fuels such as solar and biogas are potential solutions which are presently scaling up.


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