New Delhi, May 11 – As India braces for an intense summer, rural communities in some of the country’s most heatwave-prone regions are turning to time-tested, low-cost techniques to cope with soaring temperatures, crafting resilience where modern infrastructure falls short.
Traditional Solutions Rise Amid Rising Heat
With the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of an increase in heatwave days by up to 7–8 days in northern and western states, including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, rural areas are mobilising their knowledge and community spirit to stay cool.Barwani district in Madhya Pradesh, one of India’s hottest regions, witnessed temperatures surpassing 50°C last year. In neighbouring Mandla district’s Bijadandi block, residents like Malati Yadav recall times when water scarcity was a daily crisis. “There was a severe water crisis in our village. Those who woke up first got water, the rest didn’t,” she said.
Now, Malati and her women’s self-help group are acting by constructing check dams and reviving village ponds. “We store rainwater to recharge the groundwater and our pumps. There’s enough for everyone, even in summer,” she added.
Architecture and Agriculture Meet Adaptation
Seema Nargave, from Bhagsur village in Rajpur block of Barwani, described extreme heat making homes feel like “they were on fire” until late at night. Her family has adapted by using traditional architecture. “We coat our mud houses with cow dung and build thatched rooms from Arhar stalks to allow better ventilation,” she explained.The heat affects not only people but also livestock. “Our buffalo’s skin burns, and it stops giving milk,” Seema noted. Her family uses neem leaves and wet cotton cloths to keep animals cool.
In Jharkhand’s Garhwa district, Kunti Devi and her neighbours adjust their routines. “We start work before sunrise and avoid the midday sun. By 10 am, I feel dizzy,” she said. Their coping strategies include drinking buttermilk, eating light meals, and resting under trees.
Struggles and Systemic Challenges
Farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region plant native trees like ber, neem, and aam for natural shade and crop resilience. But affordability is a hurdle. “Buying saplings is expensive, and livestock numbers are falling, so there’s less gobar for manure,” said Ghamandi Lal, a small farmer in Lalitpur, Madhya Pradesh.He added, “Our fields are harder, fertiliser use is up, and no subsidies for climate-resilient plants exist. Heat is killing our crops and our ability to fight it.”
Livestock maintenance has also become difficult. “Fodder prices are up, and cows are producing less milk due to the heat,” he said.
In Maharashtra’s Bobalwadi village, residents like Sakela Bhatnagar cool their tin-roof homes by spreading mango and palash leaves. “We plant sitaphal and aam trees for shade and income,” she said.
Experts Call for Localised Heat Resilience Plans
Neeraja Kudrimoti, Associate Director at Transform Rural India, says rural communities need urgent support. “They lack access to cooling infrastructure and reliable electricity. Heat waves are not only causing illness but disrupting livelihoods,” she warned.Kudrimoti stressed the need for localised Heat Action Plans, improved water access, and targeted social protection schemes.
Authorities are beginning to respond. “Government advisories now restrict outdoor work from 12 noon to 4 pm during yellow and orange heatwave alerts,” said Vishwas Chitale, Senior Programme Lead at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). But he urged further action. “Rural areas need cooling shelters, clean drinking water, and thermal comfort zones.”
Tradition as the Foundation of Survival
While urban areas invest in mist fans and green corridors, rural India leans on collective wisdom. “Resilience isn’t always about high-tech solutions. Sometimes, it’s a clay wall, a neem leaf, or a shared pond that holds the key to survival,” said Kunti Devi.In the face of extreme weather, these communities are showing that sustainability and survival can go hand-in-hand, not with expensive technology, but with tradition, adaptation, and community-driven action.