SC/ST households face a 22% unexplained gap in clean fuel access, needing targeted subsidies, better LPG delivery, and housing support.
Authors
Tarun Arora, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy, O.P. Jindal Global University, Haryana, Sonipat, India
Prashant Kumar Choudhary, Department of Public Policy at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
Reetika Syal, Department of International Studies, Political Science, and History, CHRIST University, Bengaluru, India
Summary
Access to clean cooking fuel constitutes a fundamental element of household well-being and national energy security, particularly for marginalized and socio-economically disadvantaged communities. This paper examines the discrimination in access to clean cooking fuel between Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) and non-SC/ST households in India. Drawing on data from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) 78th Round (2020–21) Multiple Indicator Survey, the study seeks to quantify the extent of this discrimination and analyze the underlying factors contributing to disparities in clean fuel access.
Empirical evidence suggests that non-SC/ST households have significantly greater access to clean cooking fuel than SC/ST households. This disparity is primarily explained by socio-economic variables such as income, education, gender, region, and employment status. However, the decomposition analysis reveals that a considerable portion, 22 percent, of the gap remains unexplained, indicating persistent discrimination that cannot be attributed solely to observable characteristics.
The study recommends strengthening last-mile delivery of LPG in SC/ST-dominated areas and integrating energy access with housing programs like PMAY. It also advocates for targeted subsidies linked to caste and income data to support recurring fuel costs. Additionally, the paper emphasizes the need for infrastructure improvements, such as separate kitchens and durable housing, to enable sustained adoption of clean cooking fuels.
Published in: Journal of Social and Economic Development
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