Improved cookstoves in rural India: how improved are they? A critique of the perceived benefits from the National Programme on Improved Chulhas (NPIC)

The National Programme on Improved Cookstoves (NPIC) was started by the Min istry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES), Government of India, in 19 85 to achieve the twin objectives of fuelwood conservation and smoke reduct ion in kitchens. NPIC has overseen the installation of 28 million improved cookstoves, saving nearly 20 million tons of firewood per year. These achie vements, though seemingly impressive, are not realistic as they are based o n certain assumptions, particularly regarding the life expectancy of stoves . This paper examines the various assumptions made in such calculations and tries to arrive at some realistic numbers regarding fuelwood savings, whic h can be used to evolve a policy for refining the NPIC further. (C) 2001 El sevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.