NGOs mobilise to combat heat wave crisis in India

topic:	Climate Change
located:	India
editor:	Hanan Zaffar

India is grappling with a severe heat wave that has caused widespread distress, with the eastern state of Odisha reporting eight deaths within 72 hours as of June 11.

The event is part of a decade–long trend of increasingly intense heat events in the country, and it is the longest on record. Global warming makes heat waves longer, more frequent, and more intense, especially in South Asian countries.

A May study found that climate change has made heatwaves in the region at least 30 times more likely. Scientists also note that temperatures in South Asia are now at least 2°C hotter than in pre-industrial times due to climate change.

Temperatures have soared to 45–50°C in several parts of India, hitting states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh hard. The heatwave coincided with the final phases of the general election, making the situation even worse. In Bihar, at least 14 people, including ten polling personnel, died from heatstroke. In Uttar Pradesh, over 25 election workers died in the oppressive heat. The disaster also caused water shortages and erratic electricity supply in urban and rural areas, making life even more difficult for vulnerable communities.

Official statistics released in May indicated that 60 people died between March and May due to heat-related illnesses. However, the actual number is likely to be higher, as many heat-related deaths in rural areas go unreported. While the extreme heat has driven many to seek refuge indoors, daily-wage labourers and gig workers in outdoor jobs are bound to bear the brunt of the crisis.

Scientists emphasise the urgent need for drastic measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to curb the fast-rising global temperatures. Although India is the third–highest emitter of greenhouse gases, its per capita carbon footprint is much lower than that of Western industrialised nations.

Despite this, experts point out that India lacks a robust, implementation-oriented heat action plan and is poorly prepared to handle the increasing heat. A public policy think tank report, Centre for Policy Research, analysed 37 heat action plans (HAPs) across 18 Indian states. The report found that most HAPs are not tailored to local contexts and fail to identify and target vulnerable groups. Moreover, these plans are underfunded, lack solid legal foundations, and are insufficiently transparent.

Recognising the urgent need for intervention, local self-help groups and nonprofits have assisted vulnerable communities. One such organisation, the Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS), works to mitigate the immediate effects of heat waves while strengthening community preparedness. SEEDS provides thermal insulation for shelters, free umbrellas, and health check-ups and establishes safe drinking water stations. They also train communities on the impacts of climate change.

In the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, local authorities are teaming up with the district administration to provide measures such as regularly distributing water and oral rehydration solutions (ORS) to daily wage workers, footpath dwellers, small vendors, and even traffic personnel.

Another organisation, the Mahila Housing Trust (MHT), has been offering sustainable cooling solutions to residents of congested and heat–trapped slums in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, since 2009. After learning about the high electricity bills faced by slum residents, MHT piloted various cooling solutions, including white paint, green roofs, Airlite (a translucent plastic sheet for improved ventilation), and ModRoof (a modular roof made from cardboard and agricultural waste).

Though all these solutions helped lower temperatures, painting roofs with white solar–reflective paint proved particularly effective and affordable. This initiative has significantly relieved women, children, and elderly residents in the slums.

Image by ha11ok.

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