A dimension within Rising Cost of Living
This theme highlights the critical shortages of LPG and millet, leading to increased reliance on traditional fuels and environmental concerns.
150 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
Negative
Overall Community Sentiment
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.
Yes, the shortage of LPG cylinders has affected us a lot. Because cylinders are not always available on time, we sometimes use an induction stove and even firewood for cooking. Collecting wood from nearby forest areas requires extra effort and makes daily cooking more difficult.
— Sahil Singh · Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
In this village, the forest has been damaged a bit more than before this time. Herbs cannot be collected, and because of that, we...
— Padmini Bhoi
In olden times, many kinds of herbs were available in our village, but in the current situation, due to the cutting of this forest, some conservation efforts could not be made, which means for us in the coming time...
— Mohan AHARI · Sarera, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Yes, this has affected us. In our village, sometimes gas cylinders are not available on time. Also, gas prices have increased a lot, due to which household expenses have risen. So, we use gas sparingly. We cook as much as possible on a stove and only light the gas when there is a great need. The wood obtained from the fields or cow dung cakes are very useful. This saves gas and reduces the stress of increased expenses a little. In this way, we manage this difficulty.
— Pragati Raut · Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra
For us, due to this forest being depleted, there are all these types of dry wood, resin, and charcoal.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.
Yes, due to the war, India is experiencing a shortage of LPG. Before the war, every month we received two LPG gas cylinders, but nowadays we get only one for 45 days. Actually, we are using both LPG and wood for cooking. It hasn't affected us much.
— Anish Toppo · Raiboga, Sundargarh, Odisha
Large trees have been cut down, due to which it is becoming difficult to find forest vegetables and herbs.
— Kachala Choudhary
Yes, damage has definitely occurred. Previously, people used to obtain two traditional food items by cutting trees from the forest. Now, these are not available. Furthermore, there has been extensive damage to medicinal plants, and those are also not available.
— gobardhan pangi
Due to excessive deforestation, we specifically have a shortage of water. Also, there is a significant shortage of food and fruits.
— Karunakar Uthansing · Maradipanga, Kandhamal, Odisha
Effect of the energy crisis and rising fuel costs The increase in fuel and LPG prices has affected many families, including ours. Cooking gas has become more expensive, so we try to use LPG carefully and avoid wastage. In Rourkela, LPG cylinder prices have increased compared to previous months. Due to the high price we use the woods for cooking and so on . rarely use the lpg cylinder. The price of fuel has been increased so we rarely use 4 wheeler or 2 wheeler for short distance.
— Anish Toppo · Rourkela, Sundargarh, Odisha
Earlier, a lot of edible items were found in the forests that could be eaten and added to midday meals, but now, due to damage to the forests, many things have become extinct.
— Kekti Tekam · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
Now, not much food is available in the forest, but our community's traditional grains like Kodo Kutki khichdi, dalia, and Tur, Chana, and Masoor dals should be included in the PDS, and our children should also receive these in their midday meals.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
. Actually in our home we are still using wood for cooking so, due to the LPG crisis I don't feel that directly affect us but yes it has affected people around our village.
— Anish Toppo · Raiboga, Sundargarh, Odisha
The situation we are in now is that the food we used to get to eat in the past has gradually disappeared.
— swornalata nayak · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
There is a very big shortage of gas in our rural areas. Because of this, we have to work very hard to manage household expenses. Due to the increase in gas prices, we cook on a traditional stove (chulha). We bring fuel from the farm and cook on a chulha. And because the prices of fuel have also increased, we travel on foot.
— Pragati Raut · Akola, Maharashtra
In the past, various types of forest products, fruits, and roots were available, but now it requires effort.
— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha
Yes, we have been affected by LPG availability. We have a large family, and normally one gas cylinder lasts about 30 days, but recently getting a new cylinder can take around 45 days. Because of this, we sometimes use firewood for cooking. Also, gas delivery vehicles are not coming close to our house, so we have to go to the market to get the cylinder. However, since there is a government employee in our family, the increase in fuel prices has not affected our finances too much.
— Sahil Singh · Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh
Forests are disappearing, livelihoods are being destroyed. Forests are also getting depleted, herbs are disappearing. It's not like it used to be.
— Chanda · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Nowadays, forests are being cleared. We used to get food from the forest, but now we are not getting it. Instead, we are consuming food grown with chemical fertilizers.
— jitendra khila · kudumulugumma, Malkangiri, Odisha
Herbs are running out, water and forests are getting depleted.
— Vinita Singh Yadav · Mukasim, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
I am Lakshmanarayanan. I am a weaver. Now, due to the gas shortage, cooking is very difficult. Now, we have to buy firewood from nearby to cook. They have also increased the price of firewood due to the shortage. So, it's very difficult now. Now, it's the rainy season. During the rainy season, from 5-6 PM, strong winds blow. It rains. So, cooking with firewood is a bit difficult. If there wasn't this gas shortage, we could manage a bit. Our weaving business is already going through some difficulties. Now, with this situation, life is becoming a bit harder.
— Divagar N · Parakkalur AD Street, Salem, Tamil Nadu
Nutritious forest food items are not found in our area because very few forests are left here.
— Sunil oraon · Ranchi, Jharkhand
In ancient times, people used to depend on the forest for their livelihood. But now, since the forest has become depleted, they are no longer able to get tubers, leaves, fruits, and roots from the forest. Therefore, the forest in greater quantity...
— SUBASH SABHASUNDAR · Gajapati, Odisha
India has been affected greatly by the rising fuel costs, and I think it's not been managed properly.We do have a large reserve of certain fuels that could have been subsidized and given at lower cost to Indians, but that hasn't been the case and I think the government is also using this as an excuse to inflate costs all around, which I think is unfair.LPG somehow we have been lucky and we have been getting the LPG at least on the last day We cannot book our LPG for a month after we've got the earlier delivery.So the second cylinder is actually literally nullified, so we're working with just one cylinder and moving from cylinder to cylinder.It's quite a precarious situation.But we also have a backup of a wood stove in the backyard and some of the food we cook using the wooden stove.Food for the dogs are cooked on a wooden stove where we burn some firewood and get some of the cooking done.Helpers in our house also cook their food on firewood.
— Aditya Negi · Bengaluru, Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka
Yes. My family has been affected by the LPG shortage. I have one small hotel, and to run it smoothly we daily use LPG. We daily use LPG cylinders for cooking breakfast, tea, and meals. Now there are delays in getting a new cylinder and also the price are increased. These delays in getting a new cylinder has created a problems in managing my hotel. To deal with LPG shortage problem we try to use the gas carefully and avoid wasting fuel. Sometimes we use wood stove for cooking meals and breakfast. Also I am forced to charge extra money on customers.
— Rohan Shinde · Boorakunte, Sarjapura, Bengaluru Urban
Due to the cutting of trees and plants in the village, various herbs and food items are becoming extinct. We can protect them.
— Mohan AHARI · Sarera, Udaipur, Rajasthan
I am a housewife at home. Gas shortage is very difficult for us. If our gas runs out and we book it, it takes 60 days to get it. Even if we book, it takes more than 10-15 days to get it. Also, because it's sold on the black market, we don't get it properly because it's a village. It's very difficult for firewood. Firewood prices have also increased. Due to gas shortage, firewood prices have also increased a lot, so we can't buy that either. Gas shortage is very difficult for us. Cooking itself is very hard. Don't know what to do.
— Divagar N · Kuppamuthu valavu, Jalakandapuram, Salem
I haven't been affected by the LPG shortage yet, but others are dealing with this problem. Therefore, many houses in my village use wood and dry leaves.
— Deepak Oraon · Mahua, Vaishali, Bihar
In the past, we used to eat various things from the hills, such as Kangu Jona Ganthia, and lived well because of them. Things that grew without fertilizer used to ripen quickly. Now, nothing is ripening from the hills, and they are not cultivating them anymore.
— Prakash ch Pradhani · Karubai, Rayagada, Odisha
Before, we used to eat saag roti, kurthi dal, urad dal, and mahua saag. Sometimes we would find amla and bael from the forest, and that's how we used to sustain our lives.
— Ram Kumari · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Earlier, in our village's forest, we found many abundant herbs. But unfortunately, the roots of these herbs in the forest are being severely destroyed. So, we will try to keep them alive for this. I will go a bit.
— Devisingh Solanki · Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh
The LPG crisis has definitely affected us because we run a food business. So, we use a commercial cylinder and not a normal household cylinder, and the prices for the commercial cylinder has gone up more than the household one. So, we have to pay extra. We used to buy it in bulk but because the price has risen, we cannot buy so many of them and keep it with us. And to adjust the price we have also increased the prices of our some of our products, which has reduced the inflow of customers.
— Zainab Rizwi · Cornwallis Colony, New Delhi, Unknown
Yes, this sudden LPG crisis is disrupting our personal lives. Especially mine. I used to take food out of the fridge. Cold food, then I would heat it on the gas. That has to be completely stopped. Strictly, the people outside have said that cooking and heating on gas are forbidden. So, my life, you can understand, will be disrupted. As a result, I am in a very bad situation.
— Arani Biswas · Bally, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal
It is certainly remembered. Our people are destroying forests. As a result, when they go to the forest, no forest products, including food items, can be found. It would have been better if forests were not destroyed.
— jitendra khila · Lachery, Malkangiri, Odisha
In our ST community, everything has changed for the people of this district. Before, we used to bring tamarind, mahua, and all kinds of forest products to eat and drink.
— Puspanjali Nag
Old, traditional foods are not available. As a result, the forest was also destroyed. The food that should be available is not available.
— Keshab Majhi · Gandhinagar, Rayagada, Odisha
In our area, many families are troubled by rising fuel prices. The increased cost of gas cylinders has raised expenses for poor and middle-class people. Some have changed their cooking methods to save gas, while others are using wood or other cheaper alternatives. The rise in petrol and diesel prices has also increased fares for buses, autos, and freight transport. This is also affecting the prices of vegetables, groceries, and other essential items. People are now traveling only when necessary and trying to cut down on expenses. If the government provides some relief or controls prices, the common public would benefit greatly.
— Kumari Ankita · Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh
I think everyone's been affected by the LPG shortage.A lot of us have switched to electrical induction stoves, tea kettles, and other electronic gadgets to do most of our stuff and limit the amount of gas used around the house.I have been not so heavily affected by the fuel cost because I don't drive a car.I only use a bike and a cycle.So yes, fuel prices have increased.It could have been dealt with better.I think there are some states that have managed to keep the fuel prices lower and some states and cities that haven't been able to do that, and that's causing some amount of struggle.But otherwise things are just going normally.I think as Indians we have been able to adapt to survive and been able to manage a lot of these situations with different methods, and I think we're doing a pretty good job considering the circumstances.I have seen a lot of people switching to wood and coal and other fun methods for cooking.So I'm not too worried, but things haven't gotten so bad just yet.
— Aditya Negi · Bengaluru, Bengaluru Urban, Karnataka
Our medicinal herbs, vegetables, fruits, and trees are depleting from the forests.
— Kachala Choudhary
Response 1: We have been badly affected by the LPG situation here in Kannur. Our last cylinder took almost 6 weeks to arrive. In between we managed with an old kerosene stove the smell and smoke was awful. The price has gone up so much compared to even last year, it's really straining our monthly budget.Response 2: My neighbour runs a small bakery and he says fuel costs are killing his business slowly. He needs two cylinders a month minimum and each refill costs more than the last. He's had to cut down on home deliveries because petrol for his bike is also too expensive now.Response 3: At home we've started being very careful. We use the electric kettle and induction stove for small things and save the gas only for proper cooking. My father drives an auto rickshaw and the petrol price increase has really hit his daily earnings. He used to save something every month but these days it's barely enough. We're hoping things improve soon.
— Shalin Sanish · Kumbam, Kannur, Kerala
