By Nitisha Agrawal, Director, Social Impact, MicroEnergy Credits

28th August 2024

 A 15-year-old boy returning from school in a remote village in Hasanpur block in Samastipur District of Bihar cooks himself Maggi noodles in a few minutes without hassling his overworked mother.

A teenage daughter prepares a quick cup of tea without her mother worrying about potential traditional stove-related issues like skin burns due to flames and smoke inhalation.

Young mothers prepare tiffins quickly for their school-going children early in the morning, saving them precious time to attend to other chores.

Induction-based cooking is triggering a silent social movement by helping the younger generation to willingly step in to share the burden of chores with their mothers. It is well-known that adolescents and even younger girls are pushed into sharing the burden of domestic chores like collecting firewood, fetching water, cooking and cleaning, etc., in many parts of rural India and globally. This pushes them to drudgery and health risks before they can make better decisions for themselves.

However, new technologies like induction-based cooking can reduce and eventually eliminate some of the burden on young shoulders. In addition, younger boys are showing a keenness to use induction stoves to prepare a quick snack or a cup of tea for themselves, as this technology seems convenient and suitable for them. The ease of technology-based cooking with the ‘click of a button’ phenomenon instead of the smokiness and heat of the fire seems like an easier choice to make. 

As a clean cooking practitioner, I have visited homes and kitchens across India using different cooking methods for the last eight years. In my interactions with women and sometimes with men, I have often observed the reluctance of men and boys in rural India to partake in any discussions around the struggle related to cooking and fuel collection women face. This reluctance could stem from the fact that they are not directly responsible for this activity, and the burden of cooking-related activities lies squarely with the females of the household.

However, as I am beginning to interact with families using induction cookstoves through MicroEnergy Credits’ (MEC) innovative induction cookstove clean cooking carbon program, it is interesting to observe the younger demographics, including boys, making an active choice to participate in electric cooking. Boys in several households we visited in Bihar knew how to operate the stove and shared their experience of cooking simple dishes on it.

On the part of younger girls (pre-marriageable age), picking up the task of cooking on induction stoves seems to be an easier choice as opposed to a smoky kitchen and the risks associated with traditional cookstoves, not to mention the drudgery of firewood collection.

What is prompting younger demographics' positive user behavior toward induction-based cooking? Can this norm be capitalized to spark a more definitive trend toward greater adoption of clean technologies like induction cooking?

Today’s youth can challenge social norms and cultural practices for themselves and also for their families. They can influence their families to adopt clean energy solutions like electric cooking and eventually go on to make the transition to clean energy solutions in their future living environments, positively impacting an entirely new generation and community.  

The ease of using induction stoves, saving of time, and the ability to multitask while cooking can help the younger generation to continue with their education while participating in household chores, as opposed to a reluctance due to a reliance on traditional cooking methods where long hours are spent in firewood collection and actual meal preparations.

Through its field partner network, MEC has brought these induction cookstoves to over 1,30,000 households in the first year of its program. This is a monumental achievement, given the largeness of this problem statement. As MEC continues its commitment to bring technology-based clean energy solutions for the communities like induction cooking, with the advent of this new norm, perhaps we could move the needle on gender dynamics in favor of a more equal distribution of chores between men and women.

The grit, determination, and can-do attitude of our women partners, who are fast emerging as clean energy leaders, is something we can all learn from. Their stories are stories of courage, where they embrace clean energy, and not only make a difference to their lives but also to the lives of many others.

By embracing clean energy alternatives, our local community partners create a positive impact on their families' well-being, addressing issues like indoor pollution, respiratory ailments, water-borne diseases, and reducing carbon emissions. Their goal as micro-entrepreneurs is to share these benefits with others. They tirelessly travel from village to village, raising awareness and conducting product and tech demonstrations, serving as a daily source of inspiration.

Our women partners gain the means to generate and stabilize their finances, leading to financial independence. This empowerment allows them to take charge of their lives and make improved lifestyle choices that have far-reaching effects. Consequently, this strengthens families, communities, and countries, contributing to a positive global change.

With extensive experience in India, Africa, and Mongolia, MicroEnergy Credits collaborates with a diverse range of microfinance institutions (MFIs), non-banking financial corporations (NBFCs), and banks on clean energy lending programs. We build upon this experience and deep understanding of market conditions to enable the accessibility of clean energy alternatives. Working alongside our MFI partners, we empower communities to take control of their clean energy future in a way that upholds their families and local economies with dignity.

Impact Story

Meet Sitapati, one of our micro entrepreneurs, who was able to turn her life around thanks to her resourcefulness with clean energy.

Today, Sitapati, is the Health Coordinator of her village, Raipati’s gram panchayat. She also successfully enables sales of carbon efficient cookstoves and solar lights. She travels from village to village, spreading awareness about the health and climate benefits of clean energy products, helps with product demos, handles complaints, if any, and further encourages other women to join the movement by embracing both clean energy and entrepreneurship. She sells 18-19 clean energy products a month and shares collective feedback that these cookstoves are non-polluting, have no fumes, and are less time consuming that translates to faster cooking and more time for women to pursue other activities.

Sitapati led a very different life earlier though. She was confined to the four walls of her home, and no one knew her other than her immediate family. Today, Sitapati feels like she is not only expanding her mind but also her social circle. She works shoulder to shoulder with her husband now, who supports her and often drives her around to the villages she needs to go to to promote clean energy. “I feel empowered and aim to empower many other women like me,” she says.

Watch the video here