1.7cr Indian households sleep and cook in one room: Study
A study on Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) by the housing ministry has revealed that a staggering 1.7 crore of Indian households do not have separate kitchens. Almost all such residents sleep and cook food in the same room. Mizoram leads the list with the most number of such households, followed by Bihar. However, Kerala and Daman&Diu have over 90% houses with separate kitchens.
Why is the study important?
The revelations gain significance in the light of the fact that air pollution in kitchens has been termed a major health concern. The journal Elsevier said kitchens can be more polluted than roads; it said urban households, especially kitchens, could have severe PM 2.5 pollutants too. Lack of proper ventilation and release of colourless pollutants by appliances increase probability of pollution in kitchens.
Data from 2011 SECC helping in housing sanction
The last SECC survey in 2011 showed that 24.5% of urban households had a single room. Data gained from the comprehensive door-to-door nationwide study is being used to decide on sanctioning central aid for houses for the urban poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Free LPG connections to tackle household pollution
Research has revealed that millions, especially women, are constantly exposed to harmful pollutants in their households due to use of alternative fuels (coal, dung cakes, biomass etc) for cooking, and inadequate ventilation. The Narendra Modi government introduced the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in an attempt to tackle the issue: it aimed to provide free LGP connections to five crore families in three years.
