Abstract
Fifty years after Independence, despite the efforts of planners, rural India suffers an acute energy shortage, as is attested by this case study of Village Singi. Various energy sources, needed for production, domestic use, lighting, transport etc. are discussed. The scarcity of energy is a fetter on the development of the village and has an adverse impact on the quality of life of the people, it is pointed out. The scenario of scarcity also has other consequences-there are indications of malpractices in the PDS, due to which scarce kerosene diverted to the black market; and poor households have to depend on firewood and dry leaves for cooking fuel, so trees are vanishing at an alarming rate and the social forestry programme in the area has suffered.
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