NHRC Urges States to Safeguard Vulnerable Populations Amid Rising Heatwaves

Urgent Call for Action from NHRC

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concerns regarding the increasing frequency and severity of heatwaves, particularly affecting marginalized communities. On Tuesday, the NHRC urged 21 states and the National Capital Territory of Delhi to implement proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable groups.

Individuals such as the elderly, children, infants, and newborns are particularly at risk from the adverse health effects associated with extreme heat. Furthermore, heatwaves can result in job losses and a heightened risk of fire incidents, as noted by the NHRC in their official statement.

Recent days have seen temperatures soar across various states, with many areas in Delhi recording temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.

In light of this situation, the NHRC has called upon the aforementioned states and Delhi to take preemptive actions and establish relief initiatives aimed at protecting at-risk populations during heatwaves.

The states involved include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The Commission has pointed out that the increasing frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves disproportionately impact marginalized groups, economically disadvantaged individuals, outdoor laborers, and the homeless, who often lack sufficient shelter and resources.

Consequently, the NHRC has sent a letter to the chief secretaries of these states and the Union Territory of Delhi, stressing the immediate need for comprehensive and inclusive strategies.

The rights panel also underscored the dangers faced by economically disadvantaged groups, outdoor workers, the elderly, children, newborns, and particularly the homeless during heatwaves, given their inadequate shelter and resources.

Referencing data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which reported approximately 3,712 heat-related deaths in India from 2019 to 2023, the NHRC has urged states to devise and ensure the effective execution of relief measures in accordance with existing standard operating procedures or guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to alleviate the effects of heatwaves and avert fatalities.

The NHRC has requested consolidated reports on actions taken from district levels within the states or Union Territories.