Chennai, April 29:
The National Human Rights Commission has urged the Tamil Nadu government to take proactive and coordinated measures to safeguard vulnerable populations from intensifying heatwaves, warning of serious risks to public health and livelihoods.
In an advisory issued to Chief Secretaries of 21 states and Delhi, the Commission included Tamil Nadu, stressing the need for advance preparedness and effective implementation of relief measures.
The directive comes as several parts of the state are already witnessing high temperatures and humidity, heightening heat stress among residents.
The Commission noted that heatwaves disproportionately impact economically weaker sections, including daily wage earners, outdoor workers and the homeless—especially in urban centres like Chennai, where access to adequate shelter and cooling infrastructure remains uneven.
The elderly, children, infants and newborns were identified as particularly vulnerable.
Citing data from the National Crime Records Bureau, the NHRC said that 3,712 deaths due to heat or sunstroke were recorded across India between 2019 and 2023, underscoring the urgency for preventive action.
The Commission has directed the state to strictly follow existing Standard Operating Procedures and guidelines issued by the National Disaster Management Authority. Recommended measures include ensuring access to drinking water, setting up cooling centres, regulating working hours for outdoor labourers and strengthening public health response systems.
It also cautioned that prolonged heat conditions could disrupt livelihoods, particularly in the informal sector, and increase the risk of fire accidents.
The advisory highlights the growing need for Tamil Nadu to reinforce its heat action plans and ensure effective last-mile delivery of relief measures in high-risk and densely populated areas.