Professor Rajib Dasgupta, a co-principal investigator on project CHHANW, presented a talk titled “Heat Action Plans in a Warming India: Shifting the Gaze to Community-centred Approaches” at the Workshop on Science and Technology: Agenda for Self-reliant India organised by Delhi Science Forum on 31 August 2024 at Indian Social Institute, New Delhi. Other contributors to the work included Dr Purnamita Dasgupta, Anussha Murali and Girika Sharma.
The core elements of Heat Action Plans (HAPs) were reviewed under the themes of: agreement on a lead body; accurate and timely alert systems; heat-related health information plan; reduction in indoor heat exposure; particular care for vulnerable population groups; preparedness of the health and social care system; long-term urban planning and real-time surveillance and evaluation. Gaps and opportunities were deliberated upon: policy disconnect; inadequate coverage and implementation; lack of actionable guidelines addressing climate and social vulnerabilities; adaptation and mitigation challenges; absence of local contextualisation; human health; and, financing and governance challenges. The discussion among the participants pointed to the need to move beyond awareness generation to examining risk perception and availability and access to resources as well as a need to develop action plans with communities to ensure suitability, acceptance and ownership – specific to hotspots and vulnerable groups.
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