The Silent Struggle: How Extreme Heat and Humidity Impact India's Women

Majida Begum and countless women in India face daily struggles due to extreme heat exacerbated by climate change. Women, especially in unorganised sectors, suffer severe economic and health losses. The dual crises of heat and humidity are pushing marginalized communities into deeper vulnerability, highlighting pervasive gender disparities.

“It’s all about survival,” says Majida Begum, her face wreathed in sweat as she sifts through waste in Delhi’s Seemapuri area. Her words echo the everyday struggles of millions of women in India bearing the brunt of the twin crises of heat and humidity.

As climate change tightens its grip, a UN's Food and Agriculture Organization study reveals that female-headed households in rural areas lose 8% more of their income due to heat stress compared to male-headed households. Seema Bhaskaran, gender lead at NGO Transform Rural India, explains that while men have advanced to secondary and tertiary sectors, women remain stuck in unorganised, labour-intensive roles. Majida is a living testament to this harsh reality.

Under a makeshift shelter, 65-year-old ragpicker Majida spends hours beneath the searing sun, taking breaks only to drench herself with water from a community tank to continue her grueling work. Her husband, aged 70 and immobile, relies entirely on her earnings, and their estranged son offers no support. Majida’s story is a stark representation of the struggles endured by women due to extreme heat, inadequate facilities, and economic hardship.

In Delhi's Seelampur, Saira, a 30-year-old mother of two, shifted from waste segregation to house cleaning due to the oppressive heat affecting her health and income. Similarly, Radha Koli in Sundernagari slum has had her livelihood impacted, with repeated heat-induced absences from work driven by her family's health issues.

Reports indicate a significant increase in heat-related illnesses and deaths across India, with women in marginalized communities being the worst affected. From vegetable vendors in Ranchi to food stall owners in Bhubaneswar, many women have had their economic stability rocked by the relentless heatwaves.

The situation underlines the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate the gendered impacts of climate change and extreme heat on India's vulnerable populations.