Vol. 11, Issue 4, Part D (2025)

Abstract
Solid fuels are usually available free of cost for rural households, although the household only needs to make effort in solid fuel collection and storage. It is true that the traditional mud stove causes air pollution from smoke-burning solid fuels, which adversely affect the health of women as well as the health of children in small or pack houses or kitchens. Census of India (2011) reported that firewood was the primary cooking fuel among 63% of the rural families while another 23 percent used crop residues and cow-dung/bullock-dung cakes as primary cooking fuel, however only 11 percent rural families were using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as primary cooking fuel. A descriptive survey research design was employed in the study to assess the key factors that affect the adoption and sustainability of PMUY in Muzaffarpur district. Gas agencies from three blocks of Muzaffarpur district were selected by random sampling. The present study was done on a sample of 100 BPL women who get the Pradhanmantri Ujjawla Yojna LPG connection from Mushahari, Kurhani, and Marwan blocks in Muzaffarpur district. The primary data were collected from PMUY beneficiary by interview schedule. Present study found that the economic factors take the leading position (grand mean=3.70, grand variance=1.25 and grand s.d=1.11) followed by socio-cultural factor (grand mean =3.68, grand variance=0.93 & grand s.d = 0.95) and legal and adminstrative factors (grand mean =3.53 grand variance=1.43 & grand s.d = 1.19) respectively. The present study tried to find out the factors which are affecting the adaptation and sustainability of the PMUY scheme. It is clear from the study that the economical and socio-cultural factor are sever factors that are affecting the sustainability of the PMUY, i.e., low subsidy, inadequate monthly income, and availability of crop residue, fire wood and cow dung etc are very low price or cost free are the main factors. Study finding suggest that the price of LPG refill is very high according to the income of the PMUY beneficiaries, so the government should be increase amount of subsidy for PMUY beneficiaries for sustainable use of LPG. If possible, some refills should provide free of cost in every year.