Every morning, Shakuntala Devi and Shakiba Bibi, neighbors at a slum in India's capital Delhi, leave their homes in search of a cooking gas cylinder. For three weeks, they have returned empty-handed. If it continues like this for a few more days, we will run out of gas in our kitchens and have to return to our villages, Shakuntala reports. They work as domestic helpers in nearby middle-class neighborhoods, earning around 15,000 rupees a month. Many in their situation came from villages in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, drawn to the city for work.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global shipments, severely straining cooking gas supplies in India, where Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is predominantly used for cooking. India relies heavily on these imports, mostly through the Strait of Hormuz, a region currently marked by turmoil. While the government claims there is no shortage and that they are ramping up domestic production, migrants report fears about the accessibility of gas supplies.
Out of nearly 30 migrant workers interviewed in Delhi, many expressed the urgency of returning to their villages if the gas situation does not improve. Reports have emerged from other major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai, where long queues outside gas distribution centers are becoming commonplace.
The shortage has forced some to rely on less clean fuels like firewood and coal, highlighting the hazardous implications of cooking with such alternatives in cramped living conditions. As restaurants and food businesses suffer due to gas shortages, many small vendors are left with no choice but to cut down on services, further exacerbating job loss and economic uncertainty for the workers.
Discussions with experts indicate that while the situation remains manageable at present, continued reverse migration may have a significant impact on labour-intensive industries. Many workers dependent on informal networks face additional barriers due to stringent requirements for obtaining gas connections, leaving them vulnerable and uncertain about their future in urban settings.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted global shipments, severely straining cooking gas supplies in India, where Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is predominantly used for cooking. India relies heavily on these imports, mostly through the Strait of Hormuz, a region currently marked by turmoil. While the government claims there is no shortage and that they are ramping up domestic production, migrants report fears about the accessibility of gas supplies.
Out of nearly 30 migrant workers interviewed in Delhi, many expressed the urgency of returning to their villages if the gas situation does not improve. Reports have emerged from other major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai, where long queues outside gas distribution centers are becoming commonplace.
The shortage has forced some to rely on less clean fuels like firewood and coal, highlighting the hazardous implications of cooking with such alternatives in cramped living conditions. As restaurants and food businesses suffer due to gas shortages, many small vendors are left with no choice but to cut down on services, further exacerbating job loss and economic uncertainty for the workers.
Discussions with experts indicate that while the situation remains manageable at present, continued reverse migration may have a significant impact on labour-intensive industries. Many workers dependent on informal networks face additional barriers due to stringent requirements for obtaining gas connections, leaving them vulnerable and uncertain about their future in urban settings.
