• Using the Air Pollution Burden of Disease Explorer tool the researchers at “Vital Strategies”, a global organization for Public Health, estimated changes in rates of morbidity and mortality following interventions aimed at reducing air pollution in houses where unclean fuel is being used. 

• Baseline estimates were taken from the “2017 Global Burden of Disease and Comparative Risk Assessment” on data related to rates of illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, diabetes etc., and their relationship with PM 2.5.

• The study concluded that the introduction and consistent use of LPG in households previously reliant on unclean fuels could potentially prevent around 150,000 deaths annually, even if other sources of air pollution remain unchanged.

• Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal contribute to half of the mortality and morbidity due to household air pollution. 

• The state-wise analysis includes those families who i) are registered with Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) but donot use it exclusively; ii) those who are not beneficiaries of PMUY.

• Targeted subsidies for households with pregnant women were found to be cost-effective with a cost-benefit ratio of <1, indicating economic benefit in addition to the health benefits.

This result was based on the analysis of four scenarios:

• Full subsidy provision for eight annual refills to all households

• Partial subsidy provision for eight annual refills to all households

• Full subsidy provision for households with pregnant women

• Targeted partial subsidy provision for households with pregnant women.

The above study emphasises on the need to overcome the problems faced in implementing the PMUY owing to its health and economic benefits on exclusive use of LPG gas

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