Urgent Measures for Informal Workers:
- Climate experts have proposed several immediate actions to protect informal sector workers during extreme heat, including:
- Paid heat leave for workers affected by high temperatures.
- Free water ATMs at labor hubs to ensure access to hydration.
- Legal recognition of the ‘right to cool’ to guarantee cooling infrastructure and thermal comfort.
Relevance :GS 2(Social Justice)
Impact on Informal Sector Workers:
- Over 80% of Delhi’s informal workers, including street vendors, construction laborers, and ragpickers, are at risk due to extreme heat.
- Women in the informal workforce are disproportionately affected by heat-related health issues and income loss.
Economic Impact of Heat:
- A GreenpeaceIndia report revealed that:
- 61% of street vendors lose more than 40% of their daily income during extreme heat.
- 75% of street vendors lack access to cooling infrastructure, highlighting significant disparities in working conditions.
Health Risks:
- Extreme heat exacerbates cases of dehydration, heatstroke, and chronic illnesses such as kidney damage among informal workers.
- Urgent intervention is needed to address these health risks, especially during increasing heatwave days predicted for summer.
Gender-Sensitive Urban Planning:
- With 82% of working women in India engaged in informal labor, there is a strong need for gender-responsive urban planning.
- Facilities such as shelters, drinking water stations, and public amenities must be designed to be accessible and welcoming to women, ensuring equitable protection against extreme heat.
Policy Recommendations:
- Experts call for a ‘right to cool’ under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which would ensure access to shaded bus stops, cooling shelters, and thermal comfort for all.
- City-level heat action plans should be created with enforceable measures, including:
- Non-negotiable paid time off during extreme heat.
- Water stations and cooling shelters on red-alert days.
Proposed Solutions:
- Installation of shaded canopies in high-traffic areas made from heat-reflective materials.
- Deployment of mobile cooling stations equipped with fans and basic first-aid facilities to provide immediate relief.
- Setting up water ATMs near labor hubs to ensure informal workers stay hydrated.
Call for Equitable Cooling Access:
- Experts emphasize that cooling disparities must be addressed as a basic human right, with particular attention to vulnerable populations like informal workers and women.
