Garo Clean Cookstoves

The state of Meghalaya, located in northeastern India, is home to some of the country’s last remaining stretches of subtropical forests. Indigenous Garo communities have lived in its Garo Hills region for generations, known for its dense forest and rich wildlife.

The Garo Hills hold immense untapped tourism potential but remain off the beaten path for most travelers. With verdant forests where animals such as wild elephants and Hoolock gibbons roam, the region offers attractions and activities for nature lovers, including camping, trekking, caving, and bird-watching. Cultural festivals and immersion programs provide opportunities to connect with local communities and learn about their traditions. 

Despite these offerings, the region faces economic challenges that impede tourism’s expansion. Around one-third of Meghalaya’s residents live below the poverty line, with poverty rates in rural areas almost double those of urban areas. The unemployment rate in Meghalaya is nearly double the national average, with the majority of the population depending entirely on agriculture for their livelihoods. Many locals can’t afford to invest in the sustainable tourism infrastructure, marketing, and training needed to receive visitors and diversify their economy. 

Limited financial resources also restrict access to modern technologies such as electric cookstoves. As a result, many Garo families use old, inefficient mud stoves that require large amounts of firewood. Burning firewood depletes the region’s forest resources and produces heavy smoke that pollutes indoor air. This poses significant health risks, particularly for women and children, who face increased respiratory and other illnesses from prolonged exposure. In 2019, over 600,000 people in India died from household air pollution, accounting for roughly 7% of total deaths. Nearly three-quarters of Meghalaya’s residents rely on solid fuels for cooking, underscoring the urgent need for cleaner solutions. In addition to health problems, the traditional cookstoves require women and children to spend hours cooking and traveling long distances to gather wood. This takes their time away from pursuing education and work, further entrapping them in the cycle of poverty and limiting their opportunities. 

These burdens on women stand in contrast to the Garo communities’ matrilineal structure where women are property owners and inheritances are passed through the mother. Despite this cultural tradition, Meghalaya has some of the lowest gender equality rates in India. Women have minimal representation in political decision-making and are often excluded from leadership roles in modern and traditional governing structures. The reliance on traditional stoves is one example of how unpaid domestic responsibilities disproportionately fall on women, increasing their economic dependence and limiting their education and leadership opportunities. Bridging the gap between the region’s cultural respect for women and the systemic inequalities they face is essential to fostering gender equity and advancing sustainable development in the Garo Hills.