Empowering Local Voices: Transforming India’s Climate Resilience from the Ground Up

**Transforming Climate Adaptation from Charity to Rights-Based Governance**

As climate change intensifies, the way we address its impacts needs a serious rethink. Adaptation cannot just be about handing out ice packs, building water kiosks, or running awareness campaigns, however helpful these might be. We must move toward a rights-based approach that protects people’s entitlements.

Legal reforms are crucial. For instance, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code must clearly address the dangers of thermal stress. Laws like the Street Vendors Act should adapt to include heat zoning. Employment schemes, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), need updates to fit urban areas. We should focus on projects like cool roofing, tree planting, and water harvesting. Worker welfare boards can be tasked with providing heat-protection kits and insurance for income loss. Facilities like the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) should set up special desks for treating heat-related illnesses, especially in industrial zones.

**Funding Heat Resilience**

Many municipalities argue that they lack the funds for heat resilience. But there are financial tools available, such as the State Disaster Relief Fund and CAMPA funds. Smart Cities budgets can also be directed toward climate adaptation projects. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts can contribute funds as well. National and global climate finance sources, like the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change, must prioritize infrastructure for heat resilience and the safety of informal workers.

**A Constitutional Approach**

India’s Directive Principles of State Policy highlight the state’s responsibility to ensure humane working conditions and public health. Article 21, which guarantees the right to life, has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to mean health and dignity too. Ignoring the dangers posed by extreme heat to workers reflects a significant governance gap that risks violating these rights. There may even come a time when the courts have to step in—perhaps through Public Interest Litigations (PILs) or by recognizing a “right to climate-safe work.”

India’s heatwave situation is more than just an environmental issue; it’s also a matter of justice. We need policies that support labor rights, urban planning, and climate resilience. Informal workers shouldn’t bear the burden alone during summer heat. The state must create enforceable, funded frameworks for heat governance instead of just issuing advisories or running pilot projects.

As temperatures rise, the true test of India’s climate preparedness will not be measured by rankings but by how we protect the lives and rights of those who cannot afford to stop working. Now is the time for decisive action.

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