In the scorching heat of Delhi, a group of residents from Sunder Nagri, a slum in northeast Delhi, are sharing their stories of survival. These stories, documented in heat diaries, offer a raw and intimate perspective on coping with extreme temperatures. The initiative, led by Greenpeace India, aims to bridge the gap between meteorological data and the human experience of heat, highlighting the diverse ways in which heat impacts different communities.
One such story is that of Gulshan, a 39-year-old mother of four. To combat the heat, she washes the floor of her one-room home multiple times, creating a temporary cooling effect for her children to sleep on. This summer, she took a proactive step by starting a heat registry, hoping that someone might read and understand her family's struggles. The family's coping mechanisms, however, come at a cost. They use a desert cooler, a more affordable alternative to air conditioning, but even then, Gulshan has to dampen everyone's clothes before sleeping to avoid rashes and skin infections.
The heat diaries, which include daily routines, work, home life, mood, and family, provide a comprehensive view of residents' lives. Arshi, a 19-year-old student, lives in a humid one-room home with five family members. The ambient air temperature is 29.3C, but with high humidity, it feels like 36.3C. Arshi's daily routine involves working at home to earn 150 rupees a day, while also seeking temporary relief in air-conditioned spaces at the college library. These experiences, she hopes, will be part of a larger narrative that can inform urban resilience policy.
The project's significance lies in its focus on the micro-level experiences of heat, which are often overlooked in favor of broader meteorological data. Aravind Unni, an urban planner, emphasizes the importance of understanding how heat affects different demographics, including geography, income, occupation, gender, and caste. By capturing these experiences, the diaries provide a more nuanced understanding of heat's impact, which is crucial for developing effective heat action plans.
One striking example of this disparity is the case of Raja, a 21-year-old street vendor. During peak summer months, he experiences temperatures as high as 45C, leading to quick spoilage of fresh produce and a significant drop in income. The lack of cooling sources in his home, beyond a ceiling fan, exacerbates the situation. As the gap between day and night temperatures narrows, people like Raja get no respite, even after the sun sets, forcing him to sleep on the roof.
The project's broader implications are evident in the call for recognizing extreme heat as a human rights issue. The diaries have been submitted to India's National Human Rights Commission, urging them to take action. The team also plans to share the testimonies with ministries, policymakers, and MPs to push for more targeted measures. Furthermore, they aim to use the testimonies as evidence of impacts and injuries, potentially leading to lawsuits to increase accountability, given the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling that protection from climate crisis impacts is part of the right to life.
The Indian government's recent decision to add heatwaves to the list of nationally notified disasters is a step in the right direction, allowing states to access emergency relief funds. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that these funds support local action guided by community participation. As Arshi expresses hope for government support, the project's impact extends beyond the pages of the heat diaries, potentially shaping urban resilience policies and the future of heat-affected communities in India.
