India, April 14 -- In forest-fringed villages like Chirai Dongri and Tintni, LPG connections have not ended dependence on firewood.

Women still trek daily to gather twigs as rising cylinder prices, unreliable refills and meagre, insecure incomes make clean fuel unaffordable.

Field reporting across Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh shows that access on paper has not translated into sustained LPG use.

On our way to Mandla district in Madhya Pradesh from Jabalpur on February 9, 2026, we stopped at a village called Chirai Dongri at around 5.30 pm. It is is nestled in a dense forest along River Narmada. We wanted to speak with local headloaders, who carry forest produce on foot to sell in nearby towns.

We did not have to wait long. As we ent...