Decomposing the Gaps in Access to LPG across Socio-Religious Groups in Rural India

Abstract

This article investigates the patterns of household cooking fuel choice and its determining factors for various socio-religious groups in rural India using NSS 68th Consumption Expenditure round. The article also studies how the inter-household gaps result in many levels of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) access for households belonging to various socio-religious groups. In this regard, the application of a logistic model for the considered socio-religious groups highlights the importance of income and the education level of different members of the households. Further, the differences in the probability of access to LPG among various socio-religious groups, with respect to upper caste Hindus, are decomposed using Fairlie decomposition method. The gap in income determines a major proportion of the gap, followed by the education level of the members. We also find that the Scheduled Tribes (STs) face the problem of availability of LPG, while other socio-religious groups, when compared to upper caste Hindus, either face affordability issues or possess a taste for traditional fuel.