Rural–urban disparities in energy poverty and gender inequality: the Indian scenario
By: Khare, Samriddhi Majumdar, Sudipa and Singh, Niharika
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Material type: 
BookPublisher: The Indian Journal of Labour Economics Description: 68(4), Oct-Dec, 2025: p.1435-1453.Subject(s): Energy poverty, Gender inequality, Rural–urban disparities, Female empowerment, Labour market disparities, Female employment, Sustainable development goals
In:
Summary: Energy poverty refers to a lack of access to reliable energy services needed for basic needs such as heating, cooking, and lighting. Energy poverty forces the dependence on traditional fuels that have significant economic, social, and health-related challenges. Traditional energy usage from wood, crop residue, animal dung, kerosene, and coal is gendered owing to the typical roles and responsibilities assigned to women, and has profound consequences for female health, economic opportunities, and their social status. Particularly in rural regions, women and children bear a disproportionate burden of energy poverty, which deepens gender-based disparities in female labour force participation (FLFP) and overall well-being. This study employs data from the National Family Health Surveys (NFHSs), Ministry of Labour and Employment (MLE) database, and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to develop a theoretical conceptual framework using structural equation modelling (SEM). The model explores the relationship between energy poverty and women empowerment, mediated by FLFP and health ailments amongst women and children. The analysis underscores the differences between the energy usage dynamics in the rural and urban contexts in India where access to clean cooking fuels had significant effect on the determinants of female empowerment for the rural households while the role of energy poverty became insignificant for the urban counterparts. The dichotomous outcomes of our study make valuable contribution for policy makers by highlighting the contrast between the rural and urban counterparts, which has not been investigated in the past literature.- Reproduced
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41027-025-00603-y
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Articles
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Indian Institute of Public Administration | 68(4), Oct-Dec, 2025: p.1435-1453 | Available | AR138517 |
Energy poverty refers to a lack of access to reliable energy services needed for basic needs such as heating, cooking, and lighting. Energy poverty forces the dependence on traditional fuels that have significant economic, social, and health-related challenges. Traditional energy usage from wood, crop residue, animal dung, kerosene, and coal is gendered owing to the typical roles and responsibilities assigned to women, and has profound consequences for female health, economic opportunities, and their social status. Particularly in rural regions, women and children bear a disproportionate burden of energy poverty, which deepens gender-based disparities in female labour force participation (FLFP) and overall well-being. This study employs data from the National Family Health Surveys (NFHSs), Ministry of Labour and Employment (MLE) database, and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to develop a theoretical conceptual framework using structural equation modelling (SEM). The model explores the relationship between energy poverty and women empowerment, mediated by FLFP and health ailments amongst women and children. The analysis underscores the differences between the energy usage dynamics in the rural and urban contexts in India where access to clean cooking fuels had significant effect on the determinants of female empowerment for the rural households while the role of energy poverty became insignificant for the urban counterparts. The dichotomous outcomes of our study make valuable contribution for policy makers by highlighting the contrast between the rural and urban counterparts, which has not been investigated in the past literature.- Reproduced
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41027-025-00603-y
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