Lanstove that will cost less than 3,000 ($48) when mass-produced has been so designed that the diesel is stored in a slightly pressurized seven-litre cylinder from where it flows into the combustor and burns very cleanly. This detachable cylinder can be re-filled in diesel pump stations somewhat like getting an LPG cylinder changed.

However, for the Lanstove to spread on a large scale in rural areas, an enlightened government policy is needed to make diesel available at a subsidized rate of 30 per litre to poor people through the "Aadhar" card, Rajvanshi said.

"With this diesel subsidy, the Lanstove's running cost will be equal to that of subsidized LPG for cooking and subsidized electricity for lighting."

NARI estimates that at 30 per litre the total diesel subsidy bill for 35,000 Indian villages that are not electrified, will come to about 126 billion - less than one-third of the subsidy given at present for LPG.

"With diesel subsidy given to rural poor, around 21 million rural households will immediately benefit with excellent light and clean cooking technology," Rajvanshi said.

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