Homes for poor to get clean cooking energy solution soon

Homes for poor being built under the government's ambitious rural housing scheme will now get a clean cooking energy solution too.
Noting that traditional "chulha" has a direct impact on the health of inhabitants of the house, especially women, the Centre today directed the states to converge its 'Unnat Chulha Abhiyan' which envisages developing a cost-effective improved biomass cook-stoves in the country with the rural housing programme 'Indira Awas Yojana' (IAY).
The 'Unnat Chulha Abhiyan" is an initiative of the New and Renewable Energy Ministry.
"...Convergence of the newly launched scheme ('Unnat Chulha Abhiyan') with IAY may be worked out to facilitate provision of the benefits under the scheme to beneficiaries of IAY in the state," the Rural Development Ministry said in a note sent to the states.

The government's new initiative assumes significance in times of global effort to reduce carbon emissions and reducing health hazards associated with the emissions.
The programme would also address the issue of unsustainable collection and use of fuel wood that puts pressure on forest resources.
An official said improved Chulhas (biomass cook-stoves), that burn biomass more cleanly and efficiently, can help mitigate climate change by reducing black carbon and other emissions resulting from burning biomass for cooking.
"There is a strong justification to promote the use of improved biomass cook-stoves for households and institutional cooking applications," the official said.