01198pab a2200181 454500 180718b2005 xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d Mathur, Jaskiran Kaur Dark homes and smoky hearths: rural electrification and women 2005 p.638-43. 12 Feb It is commonly argued by power utilities that rural electrification is commercially unviable and is responsible for the financial mess state electricity boards are in. This paper examines rural electrification from a socio-developmental perspective and argues that the direct and indirect benefits of rural electrification in reducing the burden on women, its positive impact on health, education and farm income, justifies the expense of network expansion for universal access. It is also advocates multiple uses of electricity as this would enhance these benefits, have a beneficial effect on the environment, increase the viability of rural electrification and result in savings on household (total) energy expenditure. - Reproduced. Women Power industry Mathur, Dhiraj Economic and Political Weekly 64357 64357 64357 0 0 0 0 IIPA IIPA 2018-07-19 Volume no: 40, Issue no: 7 AR64809 2018-07-19 2018-07-19 AR