Maa Saraswati Self Help Group

The Maa Saraswati Self-Help Group is from the state of Odisha in Eastern India. There are 12 members in the group and they have come together to solicit improved cookstoves.

The women who form this group are either subsistence farmers or agricultural day labourers. Currently all of them use traditional mud cookstoves or ‘chullas’ to prepare meals. This is inefficient and consumes a relatively large amount of firewood. The smoke also causes air pollution which negatively impacts on their respiratory health. Lendwithcare is seeking a donation so that this SHG can receive an improved cookstove through our partner organisation the FairClimateFund which is working in collaboration with CARE India. An improved cookstove uses less firewood (about 50-55% less) and will reduce CO2 emissions. On average, one improved cookstove can result in a reduction of 2 tonnes of C02 per year as compared to using a traditional mud cookstove and has a lifespan of about 5 years. FairClimateFund will check on the use of a large sample of cookstoves every 12 months and make an estimate of how much CO2 emissions have been reduced. Using an improved cookstove will reduce the rates of local deforestation and, since less fuel is required, the time the group members and their families spend on collecting firewood. There are also respiratory health benefits since improved cookstoves emit less smoke.

Please note that by supporting this SHG you are making a grant and not a loan. You won’t receive the repayments you would normally expect with a Lendwithcare loan, and instead we’ll let you know the reduction in CO2 emissions as a result of your support. Our colleagues at CARE India will provide training to the group on how to use the improved cookstove and they will be able to select a stove that best suits their needs.