Knowledge and Awareness of Rural Women on Energy Sources

Abstract

Energy in ru ral areas refers to most of the non- commercial energy sources used for domestic purposes. The present study was planned to assess the energy sources available in rural areas and the knowledge of women about the use and conservation of these energy sources at the household level. The study was conducted in the five villages of Dharwad district adopted under the All India Coordinated Research Project on empowerment of women. A total of 100 women respondents were randomly selected at the rate of 20 respondents from each village. An interview schedule was administered to collect the data. As high as 98 percent of the respondents used electricity as a principle source for lighting and it was available free of cost (55 percent) under Bhagyajyothi scheme of government. Agricultural waste was the principle source of energy for 96 percent of the respondents for cooking. Maximum percentage of respondents (47 percent) opined that cooking was a very demanding act ivity which required energy for more than 4 hours a day. Only 25 percent of the respondents were aware of the improved non- portable or portable chulhas which can save energy. Around 43 percent of the respondents were having knowledge and awareness about pressure cooker, an energy saving cooking device. More than 50 per cent of the respondents expressed that they didn't know the merits and problems of improved cooking devices. The poor awareness and knowledge of the respondents on the use of biomass fuels on the kitchen environment was noticed in the present study.