Women and Energy Justice: Examining the Gender Dimension in India’s Energy Access

Abstract

This paper reflects a gender and energy justice nexus on how access to energy, in India, impacts gender health, economic inclusion, and leadership opportunities. Conducted on a mixed-methods basis in both rural and semi-urban areas, the study points out that although programs such as the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) and the provision of electricity to rural areas have enhanced access on a technical level, technical access is not sufficient due to issues connected with price accessibility, inconsistency of supply, and social/social limitations. Women as the greatest users of energy, still carry the burden of the use of traditional fuels hence resulting to time poverty and health complications. The paper also establishes that the availability of dependable power sources increases women access to income and education. Nonetheless, women lack independence in the decisions that concern energy as it is predominantly male-dominated. These results are an urgent imperative to two demands of gender-sensitive policies and approaches to energy: They should be inclusive so that women have a position of access and control, and they should strengthen equitable growth.