New Delhi, Aug 21 (PTI) The NHRC has directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to examine a complaint on the impact of extreme heat on vulnerable communities in Delhi and submit an action taken report within two weeks, Greenpeace India said on Friday.
In a statement released here, Greenpeace India said that the National Human Rights Commission, in its proceedings dated August 18, observed that the allegations, if true, would amount to violations of the human rights of the victims. The complaint it was referring to raised concerns over the impact of heatwaves on street vendors, outdoor workers and residents of informal settlements, particularly their access to healthcare and drinking water.
They added that the complaint was filed by Greenpeace India in May 2025 and drew on the organisation’s reports on the impact of extreme heat on outdoor workers and vulnerable communities in Delhi.
According to the complaint, the studies documented dehydration, fatigue and high blood pressure among people exposed to extreme heat, along with inadequate access to drinking water and healthcare.
It also highlighted specific health concerns among women workers, including menstrual health disruptions, fainting and chronic fatigue linked to prolonged heat exposure.
The complaint cited a government report to claim that only 32 per cent of government hospitals were equipped to treat heatstroke patients, while 68 per cent lacked essential cooling facilities.
The complaint sought the establishment of dedicated heat wards and beds at primary and community healthcare centres, along with multilingual heat-health advisories in informal settlements and marketplaces frequented by outdoor workers.
The NGO also sought gender-responsive health guidelines and dedicated climate and occupational health cells within state health departments to track and respond to heat-related risks among outdoor and low-income workers.
Annual audits of heatwave preparedness in public hospitals and primary healthcare centres were among the other measures sought.
For Delhi, the complaint called for expediting the installation of water ATMs announced under the city’s Heat Action Plan.
It also sought installation of the water ATMs at markets, labour chowks, parks, auto and rickshaw stands, bus stops and factories. It called for repair of existing water points until the ATMs are installed and improvement of long-term water infrastructure in informal settlements.
The NHRC’s action comes after Delhi residents and worker groups submitted citizen Heat Registries to the rights panel on July 14 this year, documenting how extreme heat was affecting their health, income, livelihoods and everyday lives, Greenpeace India told PTI.
The registries included accounts from street vendors, gig workers, residents of low- and middle-income neighbourhoods, women, children, elderly people and students, the organisation said.
The residents and worker groups urged the NHRC to recognise extreme heat as a human rights concern, consider the registries as evidence of heat-related human rights harms and push governments to adequately fund and implement Heat Action Plans, it said.
Aakiz Farooq, senior campaigner at Greenpeace India, said the NHRC’s observation was an important step towards recognising climate impacts through a rights-based lens.
“This year as well, through heat registries, people and workers have documented in their own words how rising temperatures are affecting their health, livelihoods, safety and dignity,” Farooq said.
“Our aim is to ensure that climate-related harms are recognised for what they are: violations that demand accountability, remedy and reparations,” he said.
“Those who have contributed most to the climate crisis cannot continue to externalise the costs onto workers and vulnerable communities. Polluters must be held accountable and made to pay for the damage they have caused,” Farooq added. PTI SGV — PRK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.