‘Middle Class Can Still Manage The LPG Shortage But Where Will The Poor Go?’

Sarita Sharma, a homemaker in Delhi-NCR, says every news update or rumour about lpg supply or prices creates anxiety. Her narrative:

As a housewife in a small family of just my husband and me, cooking has always been a simple, everyday routine powered by our LPG cylinder. It is something we never gave much thought to and had always taken it granted—until now. These days, with war clouds hovering over West Asia, the steady blue flame of our kitchen stoves in India feels uncertain.

Yes, my last cylinder was delivered, and for now, we are managing. But there is a constant worry at the back of my mind. The rule of booking the next cylinder only after 25 days makes me anxious. What if there is a delay next time? What if the supply chain is disrupted for unknown reasons? For a small family like ours, we may still somehow adjust. But what about larger families who cook multiple meals a day and need quicker refills!

In our area, that is western Uttar Pradesh, we do not have the option of a pipeline gas connection. LPG is our only lifeline as the trusted medium for cooking. This limitation makes the situation stressful. We feel dependent and, at times, helpless.

I also think about the people around us — domestic helps, daily wage workers, and roadside hawkers. Many of them are already struggling. Some domestic helps I know have left the city and went to their hometowns because of rising costs and uncertainty. Roadside vendors, who depend on small gas cylinders to run their food stalls, are in a particularly difficult position. For them, this is not just about cooking—it is about earning their daily bread, their livelihood.

The ongoing global tensions and war have made everything feel unstable. It reminds us of past situations when sudden overnight announcements disrupted daily life. That fear still lingers. Every new update or rumour about LPG supply or pricing creates anxiety. We are constantly wondering—will there be another sudden change?

For the poor, the situation is even more severe. While some of us may think of alternatives like induction cooktops, the reality is that not everyone can afford them. Even if they could, electricity costs and power cuts pose additional challenges. A simple solution for one family may not work for another.

It has been quite some time since these uncertainties began, and it feels like the problem is not going away anytime soon. Perhaps it is time we start thinking seriously about self-sustainability. Can we explore community kitchens, alternative fuels, or better resource management? These are questions we need to ask before it becomes too late.

The kitchen is the heart of every home. When its basic needs are threatened, it affects not just meals, but peace of mind. As a housewife, all I hope for is stability—a reliable flame that allows me to care for my family without fear.

As told to Deepti Sharma