Smokeless Cookstove Foundation (SCF), focuses on household air pollution by introducing fuel-efficient, low-cost mud cookstoves using Rocket Stove Technology. SCF’s model, developed in collaboration with grassroots organizations & participating communities, empowers women to learn and install improved mud cookstoves, reducing smoke emissions by up to 50% in addition to significantly reducing firewood consumption, and cooking time, directly benefiting women's health and environmental sustainability. Established in 2017 by Nitisha Agrawal, SCF believes that transition to clean energy is not just about technology—it is about creating a movement where communities take ownership of sustainable solutions. SCF envisions a future where clean energy is not a privilege but a fundamental right, sustained and shaped by the very communities it serves.

Challenge

Creating awareness, increasing knowledge and information, and exploring potential solutions for improving the cooking environment for women in most marginal and impoverished communities in India.

PASI in Action

Digital Multimedia Storytelling and Interactive Installations

Food and cooking is really about women. When we first sat down with the women to talk, observe and listen, we realized they didn’t just need a cleaner stove. They needed time, health, and a way to become self-reliant. That changed everything for us. Instead of designing a solution in isolation, we co-developed a training focused model alongside the very people who would use it. The result? A simple, low-cost mud cookstove based on rocket stove technology that not only reduces smoke emissions but also cuts fuel consumption by half. Including aspects of food, seasonality and culture during discussions help bridge the gap and gain the community trust.

Since the work is related to cooking, we use discussions around 'food' and seasons as one of our key creative approaches to ensure that we understand and speak the language of food familiarity while talking to women about more serious issues like indoor air pollution & its related health implications.

Impact

Our impact isn’t in the number of cookstoves built—it’s in the number of women who take ownership of the process. We train women as master stove makers, enabling them to lead clean energy adoption within their own communities. Through partnerships with self-help groups (SHGs), local NGOs, and CSR initiatives, SCF has trained over 500 women across 15 states in stove installation process, enabled rural entrepreneurs to build and sell cookstoves as an additional livelihood opportunity, improved air quality, reduced deforestation, and reduced health hazards related to indoor air pollution.

We also designed a zine with famous photo documenter Gopal MS (@mumbaipaused). He says - "in small tucked away homes on cusp of change, even smoke and its absence hold stories of labour, love, and lost time, urging us to listen, reflect, and reimagine kitchens, homes and the forests as spaces of dignity and change."

Check out the zine here: Secrets of the Smokeless Cookstove

Read more about Smokeless Cookstove Foundation

Conclusion

Digital storytelling transforms real-life experiences into compelling narratives. By weaving together visuals, sound, and interactive elements, it ensures affected voices resonate not only to create awareness but also to drive action.