Under the sun: How vulnerable communities are taking the heat of climate change

Seema Bhaskaran

The agriculture sector in India has 75.9% of women workers with men, the landowners moving into secondary occupations possessing improved skills. Women work as helpers with land possession at 14% in India and they end up in tasks from sowing, weeding, and transplanting to standing in excessive pesticide-ridden water with no protective garments. 

Lifting weight, involved in sustenance tasks of fetching water, fuel, and fodder as the second LPG cylinder is often not accessed due to inter-family inequities, domestic chores, and gendered responsibilities of care. Climate change and the resultant scorching heat have exacerbated the situation. 

Transform Rural India Working in rural India with a multi-dimensional perspective supports the SHG federations in livelihood enhancement and income augmentation. In Tappal, Uttar Pradesh, during the gender integration work, it was realised that a combination of the drudgery and back-bending work in agricultural work, excessive climate vagaries, women experience several reproductive health issues including uterine prolapse and other infections including excess white discharge. 

This is also corroborated by the gynaecology department of Aligadh Medical College though medical prognosis is yet to be conducted. TRI would work with women agriculturists on both preventive and curative aspects with the support of health systems.

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