Aroh Foundation

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India's consumption of energy is today the fifth largest in the world, exceeding own production by 12.7%. Rapid domestic economic and population growth will keep the need for energy growing in the future, and so the challenge is how to increase both energy production and energy efficiency. One of the major challenges is the restricted availability of electrical power; more than 400 million Indians have no access to electricity. The situation is most serious in scarcely populated areas. In addition, there are frequent interruptions in local electricity distribution, due to poor condition of the power grids.
Lakhs of poor families having inadequate electrical supply use kerosene lamps for lighting and kerosene or firewood for cooking. A kerosene lamp spews out an average of a ton of CO2 in less than 10 years. To make matters worse, families generally cook indoors on wood fires. The health effects of burning kerosene, coal and wood are staggering, toxic smokes cause respiratory diseases that kill 1.6 million women and children every year and cause severe respiratory problems for tens of millions.