India, May 13 -- In villages like Mohad and Sursuli in Chhattisgarh, LPG access under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana has not translated into regular use.

High refill costs, rising fuel prices and tight rural budgets force families to reserve LPG for limited tasks.

This keeps them dependent on firewood, crop residue and dung cakes that are harmful for health.

In many of Chhattisgarh's villages, polluting cooking fuels such as firewood remain the popular choice despite LPG access, ground reports by Down To Earth (DTE) showed.

On February 12, 2026, this reporters visited Mohad village in Rajnandgaon district and observed a similar trend. Bhushan Sahu, a 49-year-old daily wage labourer and farmer, was pacing barefoot across his courtya...