- Source – Indian express
- Link – https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/heatwave-and-the-death-of-a-worker-what-heat-action-plan-must-focus-on-9362596/
- Syllabus – GS Paper 03
- Topic – Heatwave
What is the issue?
The article highlights the severe impact of the intense heat wave in northern India, particularly on informal workers who constitute a significant portion of the urban workforce.
Note– 61 killed (as of June 01 2024 Due to Heatwave (including workers)).
What are Heat Action Plans (HAPs
- Heat Action Plans (HAPs) outline preparatory, adaptive, and responsive strategies for government departments to address heat and its effects.
- These plans are required to be systematically drafted at the city, district, and state levels for effective implementation, following the guidelines set by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Effectiveness of Current Heat Action Plans
- Early Warning System: Many cities have developed early warning systems that provide timely alerts about impending heatwaves, helping communities and authorities to prepare.
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Campaigns have increased awareness about the dangers of extreme heat and measures to stay safe, leading to behavioral changes.
- Healthcare Preparedness: Training for healthcare workers on managing heat-related illnesses has improved, leading to better preparedness in hospitals and clinics.
- Urban Planning and Infrastructure: Some cities have started integrating heat-resilient urban planning, such as planting trees and creating green spaces.
What are the impacts of severe heat waves on Informal Workers?
- Extreme heat reduces the productivity and earnings of informal workers, whether inside or outside, causing heat-related illnesses like fatigue, dehydration, anxiety, and heat stroke.
- The lack of basic facilities such as drinking water and shade exacerbates these health risks.
- Most informal workers lack health insurance, forcing them to pay for medical treatment and spend more on protective gear and transport, which further squeezes their profits.
- Domestic workers endure constant heat from stoves, while those working from home face cramped and hot living conditions.
- Construction workers suffer under the scorching sun and makeshift shelters, and street vendors lose money due to spoiled goods and fewer customers.
- Women, who constitute a large portion of informal workers, spend more time caring for family members due to food spoilage and other heat-related issues.
What needs to be done?
- Heat waves should be viewed as prolonged disasters, necessitating Heat Action Plans (HAPs) integrated with broader urban planning and climate action.
- This requires collaboration between the NDMA, MoHUA, and MoLE.
- Diverse groups of informal workers should be included in urban settings with clear national directives, allowing states to adapt guidelines as needed.
- Distinctions between indoor and outdoor work must be explored to develop comprehensive guidelines.
- Worker communities should be involved in creating action plans.
- As heat affects women workers more severely, plans must address this disparity.
- There is a need for climate-resilient social protection, income protection, and compensation for income loss.
- Labor laws and codes should be reconsidered from the perspective of informal workers and climate change impacts.
Our cities and society often neglect informal workers. It’s crucial to rethink urban planning, not only to offer amenities like water, shade, and resting spots during heat waves but also to enhance workers’ rights in urban areas.
