DEVELOPING WORLD - CLEAN COOKING FACILITIES

A clean cooking facility is a right of every human in world. The developed countries are rich and clean cooking facilities are accessible to all. Unfortunately, clean cooking facilities are not accessible to all in developing countries; most of the peoples are either in Sub Saharan Africa region or Developing Asia. Solid fuels in the form of traditional biomass (wood, charcoal, crop residues and animal dung) are used by 2.7 billion people i.e.39% in the world. 51% in developing countries are without clean cooking facilities, 78% in Sub Saharan Africa region and 72% in India. Most of the rural people of the developing world are deprived from clean cooking facilities.

Number of Peoples without Clean Cooking Facilities in Millions

SNo.	Country / Region	Rural	Urban	Share of Population
1.	Africa	480	177	65%
a.	Sub-Saharan Africa	476	177	78%
2.	Developing Asia	1680	240	54%
a.	China	377	46	32%
b.	India	749	87	72%
c.	Rest of Developing Asia	554	107	63%
3.	Latin America	61	24	19%
4.	Middle East	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
5.	Developing Countries	2221	441	51%
6.	World	2221	441	39%

Source: International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook        -2011

Lack of access of clean cooking facilities affects Health, safety, livelihoods and environment of developing world population. The poor peoples of developing world have no alternative but to cook over open fires or cook stoves that generate a lot of smoke. Generally, the women and the young girls cook food and are exposed poisonous emissions and hence vulnerable to health problems. In addition to the cooking food, women also collect the fire woods for preparation of food. In some regions the women have to travel long distances and also goes to unsafe territories for collecting fire woods. Sometimes women carry more than their carrying capacity and it is riskier. Women often under cook their food to save fire wood or selling some for their food rations. Ultimately, it has some negative nutritional impact on family members.

Conclusion

Developing countries are poor; half of developing world peoples has no access to the clean cooking facilities, 72% of Indian peoples have no access to clean cooking facilities. Mostly women, young girls and children are victims. United Nations and some NGO are working for clean cooking facilities to all but rate is very slow. Governments of developing should make efforts to provide clean energy facility to all. More NGO should come forward to eradicate the energy poverty in the developing world.