How can India tackle its heatwave challenge?

Over the last few decades, India has seen a consistent rise in heatwave conditions, and this March was the hottest India has seen in over 120 years. Weather experts say the situation can only get worse as global warming heats up the planet. There are serious long term consequences but for many, living through India’s frequent heatwaves itself is a question of survival. A majority of India’s workforce from the low-income community works outdoors or lives without proper shelter from the heat. What can be done to save lives and prevent heat-related illnesses? Is this an irreversible change, or can appropriate policies and measures make a difference?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss the solutions to deal with India’s heatwave challenge.
Presenter: Devina Gupta
Contributors: Ulka Kelkar, director - Climate, World Resources Institute India; Anshu Sharma, co-founder, SEEDS; Sachii Tripathii, founder, Terracotta by Sachii; Deepa Subramaniam, co-founder, Woody Grass

Photo: A worker in Delhi, India, takes rest during a sweltering summer's day Credit: Getty Images