On October 30, 2024, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), a primary stakeholder of the study project, hosted a high-level stakeholder presentation in the Corporation meeting for the project “Economic and Health Impact Assessment of the Heat Adaptation Action- Case Studies from India” led by the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), based on an earlier presentation for the BMC officials organised on 15th October.
The stakeholder presentation covered the five-year study project, focusing on Bhubaneswar’s low-income settlements, targeting vulnerable groups, including school children, the elderly, and the outdoor workers, aiming to understand the health and livelihood impacts of extreme heat & heat waves. Key highlights included the introduction of potential interventions, such as mobile apps for heat advisories, adaptation kits, and infrastructure improvements like cool roofs etc. BMC officials provided strategic input, advising on community engagement and operational planning to facilitate effective data collection and intervention implementation across designated low-income areas. This project promises to deliver actionable insights for enhancing Bhubaneswar’s Heat Action Plan (HAP) and strengthening the resilience of its most affected communities.
Following the presentation, BMC signed a letter of intent with IEG to organise a baseline study as the initial phase of the project. This study will assess current conditions in target areas and pave the way future interventions.
During the event, Dr. Arabinda Mishra Chairman, Development and Environment Futures Trust (DEFT) & Co-PI, along with Dr Willium Joe, Co-PI, IEG provided an in-depth overview, outlining the project’s goals, methodologies, and anticipated outcomes. Dignitaries such as the Hon’ble Mayor Ms. Sulochana Das, Deputy Mayor Ms. Manjulata Kanhar, Hon’ble MLA Mr. Susant Kumar Rout (Bhubaneswar North), 67 Ward Corporators,representative of MP Bhubaneswar, MLAs (Bhubaneswar Central & Ekamra), BMC’s high-level officials and all other officials were present underscoring BMC’s commitment to this critical public health initiative.