Delhi's Migrant Workers Forced to Use Wood Stoves as LPG Crisis Deepens
In the industrial neighborhoods of Delhi, a severe crisis is unfolding as migrant workers grapple with skyrocketing LPG prices and unreliable supply. Residents in areas such as Narela and Bawana are increasingly turning to traditional woodfire stoves, a shift driven by economic desperation and the fear of another potential lockdown.
The Impossible Choice: Fuel or Essentials
Avdesh, a factory worker in Narela earning Rs 9,000 monthly, faces a stark dilemma. Spending Rs 4,000 on an LPG cylinder would consume nearly half his income, forcing cuts in rent, food, and his children's education. This predicament is widespread among migrant laborers in industrial zones like Okhla, Tughlaqabad, and Rohini, where rising costs and supply issues have made cooking gas unaffordable.
According to workers' union representatives, thousands have already left Delhi since March, returning to their native villages where rent-free living and accessible fuel ease the burden. Parveen Ravi of the Indian National Migrant Workers' Union notes that Narela alone, with its thousands of factories and nearly a lakh workers, has seen a significant exodus. "The workers can't afford cooking gas now, several factories that depended on LPG have either shut down or slowed operations, and the fear of another lockdown has only added to the uncertainty," she explains.
Daily Struggles and Rising Alternatives
For those remaining, daily life involves constant adjustments. Afsha, a three-year resident of Narela, now cooks on a chulha after LPG became too expensive. She highlights that even alternatives like cow-dung cakes have surged in price, from two for Re 1 to one for Rs 2. Her family plans to return to Bihar during summer vacations to escape the financial strain.
In Bawana, Banwari has sent his family back to Bulandshahar to reduce expenses, living alone and managing with minimal LPG. "I will think of bringing my family back only when the situation improves," he says, reflecting the tough decisions many are making to survive.
Price Surge and Limited Options
The rapid increase in LPG prices has caught many off guard. Subodh Karmokar, a migrant from West Bengal, recalls how informal cylinder prices jumped from around Rs 1,000 to over Rs 4,000 within weeks. "I managed to get one with the help of a relative and thought I would use it only to make tea. But it didn't last long," he shares, underscoring the fleeting nature of relief.
Traditional fuels like firewood, once a cheaper option, have also become costly. Savita in Narela reports that firewood prices have nearly doubled, while Kusum from Jhansi and her husband now cook just once a day on a chulha after running out of cylinders.
Broader Impact on Communities and Housing
The crisis extends beyond fuel, affecting housing and local economies. Deep Khatri, a factory owner in Narela, observes that areas with around 60,000 migrant workers are experiencing a severe housing crisis, with 80-90% of workers having left. "In my village, 25 out of 30 rooms are currently vacant," he states, highlighting the economic ripple effects.
Alam, a local resident, points out additional challenges: tenants who stay face rising rents and restrictions on indoor chulha use, leaving few viable options in densely populated spaces.
Rakesh Kumar, Delhi president of the Indian National Migrant Workers' Union, emphasizes that the crisis impacts all working-class communities. "With incomes hovering around Rs 12,000 a month on average and a cylinder costing nearly a third of that, the workers are being pushed to make impossible choices between rent, education and basic sustenance," he asserts.
In Rohini, labor representative Hariprasad confirms a similar trend, with daily wagers burdened by unaffordable fuel prices and crowded trains indicating a growing outflow from the city.
