The relentless grip of extreme heat in India is not just a physical challenge; it's a silent force pushing millions of the country's poorest workers deeper into the abyss of poverty. This is the stark reality unveiled by recent research conducted by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), which exclusively shared its findings with The Guardian.
The study reveals a disturbing trend: extreme heat acts as a 'poverty multiplier' for India's vast informal sector, which employs over 550 million people. Those engaged in physically demanding jobs, such as agriculture, construction, and transport, are bearing the brunt. On average, they lost a staggering 6.6% of their salaries in 2024 due to the debilitating effects of extreme heat. Outdoor workers, the most vulnerable, suffered even more, with income losses nearing 9% of their annual earnings.
The Human Cost of Extreme Heat
The economic impact is most severe in Rajasthan, a desert region plagued by prolonged heatwaves and a rising death toll. Here, informal workers face an annual income loss of 8.3%, a devastating blow to their livelihoods. The IIED research estimates that extreme heat leads to the loss of 21.1 working days per year in India, an unaffordable luxury for those living on the edge.
Ritu Bharadwaj, the climate finance director at IIED, emphasizes the dire situation: "Heat is quietly pushing these families deeper into poverty. As the heat rises, their efficiency goes down, leading to lower earnings. With reduced income, their food intake suffers. And because they cannot afford to stop, they keep working, damaging their health. They are paying for a crisis they did not cause, with their health and savings."
A Crisis of Survival
The human-caused climate breakdown is intensifying heatwaves worldwide, and India, with its predominantly informal economy, is at the forefront of this crisis. A World Bank report warns that India could be one of the first places where heatwaves surpass the human survivability limit. The economic cost is estimated to be at least £58 billion, a combination of lost wages, worksite closures, and long-term health impacts.
The analysis considers three key factors: heat-related illnesses, reduced work capacity, and worksite closures. Informal workers, already socially and economically marginalized, lack employment security, forcing them to work through illness and endure unsafe conditions. Access to basic necessities like drinking water, shade, rest areas, sanitation, and medical support is often inadequate.
Stories of Resilience and Struggle
Inder and Laxmi Kumar, a couple working on a construction site in Gurugram, embody the resilience and struggle of India's informal workers. They have endured repeated illnesses due to the extreme heat, losing eight days' wages and facing the constant threat of illness and injury. Their home, a tarpaulin shelter inside an unfinished building, offers little respite from the heat.
"I felt like I would collapse, like my body was on fire," Laxmi said. "We kept working because if we stopped, we wouldn't be paid."
For female laborers like Kumkumari, the burden is even heavier. She cares for her young daughter while working on a construction site, struggling to keep her cool in the scorching heat.
Sattavir, a 38-year-old laborer, shares a similar story. He developed a kidney infection due to working in extreme heat and repeated dehydration, leading to significant financial strain and a struggle to find work.
A Broader Perspective
The impact of extreme heat on India's informal workers is a stark reminder of the inequalities exacerbated by climate change. It highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policies and support systems to protect the most vulnerable. As the world grapples with the realities of a warming planet, stories like these serve as a powerful call to action, urging us to address the human cost of climate breakdown.
In my opinion, this research sheds light on a crisis that demands immediate attention and innovative solutions. It's a crisis that affects not just India but many parts of the world, and it's a reminder that climate change is not just an environmental issue but a social and economic justice issue as well.
