Women experience amplified health risks due to rising heat: MSSRF study in seven States
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Health policy & public health· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) released a study highlighting that women in high heat vulnerability index (HVI) districts face amplified physical, mental, and economic risks due to extreme temperatures.
Background
The MSSRF study covered seven states and found that 70% of surveyed women reported fatigue, dizziness, and dehydration during peak heat months. The research noted that women from low-income backgrounds, rural areas, or lower castes experienced more severe symptoms and wage losses exceeding ₹1,500 during summer.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyM.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) is based in Chennai
- Fact70% of surveyed women reported symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, and dehydration during peak heat months
- Fact38% of respondents reported experiencing violence at least once in their lifetime
- FactWage losses exceeding ₹1,500 were reported by nearly all respondents during summer months
For Mains
Q. Discuss how climate change acts as a threat multiplier for gender-based inequalities and health disparities in rural India.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Intersectionality of vulnerability: Compounded risks for women at the nexus of low-income, rural residency, and caste
- Economic-Health nexus: Direct correlation between extreme heat, wage loss, and physical exhaustion in labor-intensive sectors
- Policy gap: Lack of gender-specific heat stress research and inclusion in national climate adaptation strategies
Keywords: threat multiplier · gender-specific · climate adaptation · intersectionality · heat vulnerability
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