New Delhi: HeatThe issue of devastation has taken centre stage in discussions on climate change over the past few months as Delhiites face scorching heat, with temperatures reaching up to 47 degrees Celsius. Greenpeace India in collaboration with National Hawkers Federation A report was unveiled at the Triveni Kala Sangam on Friday, examining its impact. heat waves But Street vendors There is panic among the people due to the scorching heat in the capital, hence people have demanded that the scorching heat be declared a national disaster.

A musical dialogue by Manzil Mystics kickstarted the discussion Climate change and the need for community-driven measures to mitigate its impact. Compositions inspired by the words of Kabir Das and Mahatma Gandhi inspired the audience to sway and pledge for climate action. The performance was followed by a panel discussion on the impact of heatwaves. “The disproportionate impact of heatwaves is a Climate Justice “This is a serious issue,” said a campaigner from Greenpeace India.

‘Heat-induced stress has added to the existing challenges faced by outdoor workers in Delhi’
As a part of the climate justice campaign, the organisation has been mapping the impact of extreme climate events like heatwaves and the key findings of the research show that 68.92 per cent of vendors and outdoor workers are aware of heatwaves, but only 9.56 per cent of them have heard about Delhi’s Heat Action Plan (2023). The recommendations mentioned in the report suggest that the NDMA should declare heatwaves as a national disaster, which will ensure dedicated funds for adaptation, mitigation and relief efforts. Another recommendation was to set up drinking water stations in markets and street vending areas.
Panellist Deepali Tonk said, “Heat waves and heat stress add to the already existing challenges of street vendors and outdoor workers. This impacts health, productivity and income.” Sandeep Verma, Convener, National Hawkers Foundation said, “Street vendors are frontline workers. The impact of heat has been disproportionate in the last few years, but there is no strategy to mitigate it. The workplace of the vendor community is the street. At any step, if there is any reduction due to increasing heat, the whole system gets disturbed. They do not have the privilege to acknowledge the impact of heat on their health, they prefer to ignore it. The impact of heat is reflected in the decreasing number of customers, which impacts the income of vendors.” Highlights

Thermal imaging technology helped identify hot spots at the micro-climate level. Research conducted by Dr Manaranjan Ghosh highlights that rising thermal discomfort in Delhi is a significant public health and livelihood concern.
Irritability, headaches, dehydration, sunburn, fatigue, muscle cramps and high blood pressure are some of the common health problems identified among vendors. Anxiety and insomnia have also been reported.
63 percent of street vendors do not take ‘work breaks’ during the day/working hours.

Focused group discussions with women vendors revealed that their menstrual cycles may be delayed due to extreme heat

721 vendors were surveyed between the first week of April and the first week of May

Salomi Garnaik, a campaigner with Greenpeace India, had earlier said, “Heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent, causing serious health and economic risks, especially among the most marginalised communities. Outdoor workers are suffering the most. We cannot ignore this disproportionate impact of heatwaves on marginalised communities. It is important to recognise heatwaves as a national disaster and allocate adequate funding for our cities to implement local heatwave action plans.”

Attendees also visited the Smriti Sangrahalaya, an exhibition with 50 objects that tell real-life stories of people caught up in extreme climate events. “Collecting these stories was emotionally draining, but also rewarding to come across stories of hope and resilience,” says Amrita SN, campaigner for Greenpeace India and curator of the Smriti Sangrahalaya.