India’s key to beating the heat? Paint.
Temperatures in India’s slums can soar to 50C. Here’s how one NGO is helping residents keep cool as the climate crisis worsens.
In the era of the climate crisis, one of the hundreds of places in the world that is getting hotter is India. The country’s northern states are situated near the Tropic of Cancer, a latitudinal line which sits 23.5 degrees above the equator and helps contribute to the intense weather that India is facing more regularly. For example, in July 2021, an intense heatwave struck the capital New Delhi soared to record highs of over 43 degrees Celsius, a mercury reading unseen in the city for over 90 years.
While these may seem extreme to readers unfamiliar with such temperatures, other cities in India in fact endure even more hellish temperatures than those found in the capital. One of the most notoriously hot places in India is Ahmedabad, the largest city in the state of Gujarat which lies directly on the Tropic of Cancer. During a particularly brutal heatwave in 2016, officials recorded temperatures over 48 degrees Celsius — an almost unimaginable outdoor temperature which causes roads to start melting, not to mention the severe stress it puts on the human body.
Those with the means to do so will retreat into their air-conditioned sanctuaries, protecting themselves from the dangers of the extreme temperatures. However, for the 12.5% of Ahmedabad’s population who live in a slum, heatwaves make their homes unliveable.
This is because many houses in India’s sprawling slums are built of poor quality concrete which potently absorbs heat. This heat retention drastically raises the indoor temperature — so much so, that residents struggle to sleep, work or function normally. The lack of windows in many of the houses means air circulation and natural light are non-existent, leaving residents no choice but to use heat-producing lightbulbs to see in the darkness. Women and children are usually worst affected, as they spend most time of all in the home, and some even develop boils on their face and body as a result of the intense heat.
During heatwaves, the danger of heat-related illness skyrockets. The ever-present problems of garbage piles, sewage leaks and infectious diseases go on the back burner when temperates soar — the number one priority is staying cool.
Despite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing to eradicate slum dwellings, they are still very much a reality in many of India’s megacities. With little governmental help being offered to those affected, what can be done to improve the lives of those living there now?
That’s where non-profit organisations like Mahila Housing Trust come in. Based in the Ahmedabad, the MHT works with women from underserved communities to tackle housing-related issues such as running water, sewage disposal and electricity. They train the women into vikasinis, a Hindi word which can be translated to mean “a leader of development”, who deal directly with utility companies and other officials to improve the conditions of their areas.
The MHT also instructs women in scientific practices such as water testing, and promotes cooperation with scientists, academicians, government and local entrepreneurs to create solutions for current climate risks. In recent years, investment in the charity has allowed it to expand into a field known as climate resilience. Now, it is able to help those living in slums improve their housing situations to deal with extreme weather and harsh conditions like heat stress.
The roof of a house has a huge impact on heat retention, which is why the charity often undertakes such roof replacement projects. So-called ‘Modroofs’ made of coconut husks and waste paper are one option available to families, designed and built by Indian engineers in the city is just one of many options for families beleaguered with the sweltering heat.
However, one of the most affordable methods of home-cooling is a special, ultra-white paint that reflects a high percentage of the solar radiation. Some paints can reflect as much as 95% of the sun’s heat, allowing them to be cooled to a level lower than the surrounding temperature. When applied to concrete roofs of slum residences, it can reduce temperatures in the home by up to 8 degrees Celsius, bringing them back into a warm but otherwise liveable range.
To cover an area of 50 square feet, it costs around 12,000 rupees, or about $160 — a fee which can be split up over years using a micro-finance loan from the organisation. Once installed, the difference is temperature is immediately noticeable.
Shakeela Bano is a Ahmedabad resident and benefactor of the Mahila Housing Trust’s work. Temperatures inside her home hovered around 46 degrees Celsius on sunny days, forcing her and her children outside to seek paltry refuge from the heat. After Bano’s roof was painted, the temperature of her home dropped enough that her family can sleep comfortably and endure the frequent heatwaves more easily.
“Before, it was so hot that we couldn’t stay indoors for five minutes,” she told the BBC last month. “But now, it’s not the case. It’s much cooler inside.”
The work of charities like the MHT is essential to correcting the power imbalance present in many of India’s slums. Their aim to level the playing field through education and endorsement of female leaders is allowing conditions to be improved regardless of government intervention, leading to safer and cleaner daily lives for all slum-dwellers.
There are many problems yet to be overcome, with the climate crisis threatening to bring a whole lot more down on those most in need. But as heatwaves intensify in states like Gujarat, a lick of paint has become the unlikely yet welcome hero for many families seeking a cool place to shelter from the sun.
Liked this story? Follow the author on Medium for more content. For comments, corrections and questions, find me on Twitter at @greghill.
