Modern Energy Cooking Forum 2023, witnessed the launching of a new initiative “Women in Modern Energy Cooking”( WMEC) by Finovista with the aim to offer new pathways for women’s economic empowerment, providing opportunities for women entrepreneurs to contribute to the clean cooking sector. The Launch of WMEC was done by Dr Tripta Thakur, Director General, National Power Training Institute (NPTI), Mr Soumitra Chakraborty, Chief General Manager (Mktg. Strategy), Indian Oil, Mr Soumanil Mukherjee, Consultant, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Govt. of India, Ms Akansha Golchha, Lead – Clean Energy Access & Finance, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Ms Sheetal Rastogi, Cofounder, Finovista.
This initiative aims to advance gender equity and empower women economically by providing them with opportunities to make a substantial impact in the clean cooking sector. It recognizes that women and girls worldwide shoulder the primary responsibilities for daily cooking, which includes fuel collection and preparation, cooking itself, and household budget management. However, cooking with traditional fuels and stoves has adverse effects on their health, environment, and their quality of life.
The transition to clean cooking is essential for various reasons. It not only improves the health of women and children by eliminating the harmful effects of inhaling smoke from traditional fuels but also saves considerable time and resources. For example, a 2022 study in rural India revealed that households spent nearly 23 hours per week on cooking-related activities, while switching to cleaner fuels saved 4.2 hours per week (Afridi et al., 2022). Clean cooking allows women to redirect this time towards education, income-generating activities, leisure, and family. It also reduces gender inequality by reducing unpaid domestic work and creating opportunities for women across the clean cooking value chain.
Engaging women in the clean cooking sector can be a game-changer for multiple reasons. It ensures women have equal opportunities to participate in decision-making processes, access income-generating opportunities, adopt safer cooking technologies, and share traditional knowledge while fostering innovation. Mutual support and solidarity among women further enhance their impact.
The community of Women in Modern Energy Cooking (WMEC) encompasses various stakeholders, including startups, think tanks, leaders, local community groups, NGOs, financial institutions, carbon developers, anganwadis and academia. Its primary goal is to promote gender equity within India’s clean cooking sector, with specific objectives such as providing a platform for women to connect, increasing their participation in clean cooking discussions, raising awareness about clean cooking solutions, improving access to finance, creating opportunities, and fostering innovation.
To engage its members effectively, the community will employ a multifaceted approach. It will establish a digital platform to showcase member profiles, enhancing visibility and networking opportunities. Market access interventions, such as exhibitions, trade connects, and industry visits, will be organized. Collaboration with industry experts and innovators will enable ongoing innovation in clean cooking solutions. Various talk sessions, platforms, and forums will encourage active member participation. Knowledge resources will be created to raise awareness and provide insights into the clean cooking domain. Members will have access to financial institutions for their projects and solutions. Capacity building initiatives and entrepreneurship programs will be launched to develop the skills and entrepreneurial spirit of community members. The platform will also facilitate the sharing of business opportunities related to product supply and services within the clean cooking sector.
The Women in Modern Energy Cooking (WMEC) initiative recognizes the crucial role women play in cooking and seeks to empower them through clean cooking solutions. By creating a supportive community, enhancing access to resources and knowledge, and fostering innovation, this initiative aims to be a driving force for gender equity and progress in India’s clean cooking sector.