Context

• The phenomenon of extreme heat in India has undergone a significant transformation, evolving from a seasonal inconvenience into a widespread national crisis.
• Once largely confined to the arid northwestern and central regions, heatwaves now affect coastal and temperate zones, with over 57% of districts classified as heat-prone.
• Despite its broad geographic spread, the impact of extreme heat is unevenly distributed, revealing deep-rooted inequalities based on class, caste, and gender.
• For millions of informal workers, heat is not merely discomfort, it is a fundamental threat to life and livelihood.

Changing Geography of Heatwaves

• India’s heatwave patterns have expanded beyond their traditional boundaries.
• Regions previously considered relatively immune, such as coastal and temperate areas, are now increasingly vulnerable.
• This shift reflects broader climatic changes, making extreme heat a persistent and pervasive issue rather than a seasonal anomaly.
• The result is a nationwide thermal canopy that affects all regions, albeit with unequal consequences.

Socio-Economic Dimensions of Thermal Inequality

• While extreme heat affects everyone, its burden is disproportionately borne by the poor.
• Affluent populations can mitigate heat exposure through private cooling systems, but nearly 400–490 million informal workers lack such cooling autonomy.
• For them, survival depends on continued outdoor labour under hazardous conditions.
• Even slight increases in temperature significantly reduce productivity, leading to income loss.
• Consequently, workers are forced into a difficult choice between protecting their health and securing their livelihoods.

Frontline Realities: Evidence of Harm

• Ground-level evidence reveals the harsh realities faced by vulnerable workers.
• Sanitation workers and waste pickers operate in environments where heat is intensified by toxic emissions from unsegregated waste, creating dangerous micro-climates.
• Reports of burns from handling heated waste without protective gear highlight the severity of these conditions.
• This situation reflects a climate-caste nexus, where marginalised communities engaged in stigmatised occupations face the highest exposure to environmental hazards.

Sector-Wise Vulnerabilities

• Gig Workers: Delivery personnel face algorithmic pressures that discourage rest, even during extreme heat alerts.
• Construction Workers: High physical exertion combined with heat from materials like steel and concrete increases health risks.
• Street Vendors: They suffer both physically and economically, as heat reduces customer activity and spoils perishable goods.

Legal and Institutional Gaps

• India’s current legal framework is inadequate to address the challenges posed by extreme heat.
• The Factories Act of 1948 provides protections only for indoor workers, leaving outdoor labourers unprotected.
• Similarly, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code of 2020 lacks mandatory provisions for heat safety, relying instead on discretionary measures.
• Additionally, the exclusion of heatwaves from the Nationally Notified Disaster list limits states’ financial capacity to respond effectively.
• This creates a fiscal vacuum, restricting the allocation of resources for relief and adaptation.

Towards Addressing Thermal Injustice

• Recognition as a National Disaster: Including heatwaves in the National Disaster list would unlock funding and enable stronger administrative action.
• Adoption of the Heat Index: Using a combined measure of temperature and humidity would provide a more accurate assessment of risk.
• Strengthening Labor Protections: Mandatory work-rest cycles and provision of protective equipment should be enforced under existing labour laws.
• Right to Cool: Recognising access to cooling as a fundamental right would ensure the establishment of public cooling shelters and water facilities.
• Protection for Gig Workers: Legal safeguards must prevent platforms from penalising workers during extreme heat conditions.
• Income Compensation Mechanisms: Financial support systems, including innovative insurance models, should be implemented to offset income loss.

Conclusion

• Extreme heat in India is no longer just an environmental issue; it is a reflection of systemic social and economic inequalities.
• The concept of thermal injustice highlights how vulnerable populations bear the brunt of climate impacts while lacking the means to adapt.
• Addressing this crisis requires a shift from fragmented, advisory-based responses to a comprehensive framework grounded in rights, equity, and accountability.
• Ensuring thermal safety must become an integral part of the social contract, reinforcing the constitutional promise of justice and dignity for all.