Impact assessment of clean cookstove intervention in Gujarat, India: a potential case for corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact assessment of clean cookstove intervention in Gujarat, India

T2 - a potential case for corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding

AU - Gupta, Ankit

AU - Naved, Mohd Mubashshir

AU - Kumbhare, Himanshu

AU - Bherwani, Hemant

AU - Das, Darpan

AU - Labhsetwar, Nitin

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

PY - 2021/3/1

Y1 - 2021/3/1

N2 - Exposure to indoor air pollutants released from traditional cookstoves in rural Indian households is a matter of great concern. While there are various studies over several decades focused towards intervention strategies for reducing air pollutants, limited literature exists towards the identification of appropriate methodology for feasible intervention, adoption and usage of improved cookstoves (ICS). In the present study, PM2.5 and CO microenvironment concentrations are estimated in households using traditional and improved cookstove (NEERDHUR). The reduction in PM2.5 and CO microenvironment concentrations after the introduction of ICS was found to be 89–94% and 35–57%, respectively. Information-education-communication (IEC) activity was used as a tool to increase the adoption and usage rate in the ICS using households. The cost-benefit analysis was also performed to check the benefits of ICS use, and the benefit-cost ratio was found to be 3 to 4 times. Findings of the study suggest that, although the ICS intervention could significantly improve the indoor air quality, however, it fails to comply with the permissible safe limits; further focus on greener fuels and ventilation characteristics is suggested. The outcomes from the study can help decision-makers, corporate social responsibility fund mobilizers and policymakers for effective policy advocacy to design efforts by promoting clean cooking interventions and linking and mapping these with national missions and flagship programs.

AB - Exposure to indoor air pollutants released from traditional cookstoves in rural Indian households is a matter of great concern. While there are various studies over several decades focused towards intervention strategies for reducing air pollutants, limited literature exists towards the identification of appropriate methodology for feasible intervention, adoption and usage of improved cookstoves (ICS). In the present study, PM2.5 and CO microenvironment concentrations are estimated in households using traditional and improved cookstove (NEERDHUR). The reduction in PM2.5 and CO microenvironment concentrations after the introduction of ICS was found to be 89–94% and 35–57%, respectively. Information-education-communication (IEC) activity was used as a tool to increase the adoption and usage rate in the ICS using households. The cost-benefit analysis was also performed to check the benefits of ICS use, and the benefit-cost ratio was found to be 3 to 4 times. Findings of the study suggest that, although the ICS intervention could significantly improve the indoor air quality, however, it fails to comply with the permissible safe limits; further focus on greener fuels and ventilation characteristics is suggested. The outcomes from the study can help decision-makers, corporate social responsibility fund mobilizers and policymakers for effective policy advocacy to design efforts by promoting clean cooking interventions and linking and mapping these with national missions and flagship programs.

KW - Biomass cookstove

KW - Indoor air quality

KW - Microenvironment kitchen concentrations

KW - Particulate matter

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85093821945&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s11356-020-11011-8

DO - 10.1007/s11356-020-11011-8

M3 - Article

C2 - 33090342

AN - SCOPUS:85093821945

SN - 0944-1344

VL - 28

SP - 12740

EP - 12752

JO - Environmental Science and Pollution Research (ESPR)

JF - Environmental Science and Pollution Research (ESPR)

IS - 10

ER -