Street vendor agencies urge centers to issue national guidelines to protect suppliers from heat waves

The National Hawks Federation (NHF) urged the center on Friday (April 11, 2025) to issue national guidelines to protect street vendors from the growing threat of heat waves.

It said the temperatures are getting higher and higher, putting the lives and livelihoods of more than 20 million suppliers at risk.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the federal government said the frequency and intensity of heat waves are shocking, with 2023 with approximately 30 days of extreme hot conditions in 2023 and demanded that heat waves be included in the notification disasters under the Disaster Management Act.

The federal said suppliers face a “dual impact” in the form of health risks due to longer exposures and loss of revenue due to sufficient customer reduction.

Supplier protection measures

“Suppliers reported exhaustion, dehydration, dizziness and even hot air. Heat waves also affect perishable goods and increase economic losses. Suppliers selling fresh produce, dairy products and other heat-sensitive items suffered particularly severe economic setbacks,” the Federation said.

It says that despite the increasing risks, street vendors often lack basic infrastructure such as shadows, drinking water and first aid support.

The NHF requires the government to integrate supplier protection measures into the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) guidelines and ensure that state and city agencies implement them.

Kitty Hawks agencies have proposed several measures, including pre-planning by local authorities, installation of public hydrates, parasols and temporary shade structures, and distribution of oral rehydrated salts, cooling towels and hats.

It also recommends building shadow rest areas near the market, as well as forming a response team led by suppliers to respond to thermal stress emergencies.

The letter calls for street vending areas to be developed with green coverage and heat-resistant materials, part of long-term urban planning.

As temperatures rise and heat wave days increase, proper protection must be provided for key street vendors in India’s informal economy. The central government must provide clear guidelines for state and city local agencies to ensure safety of street vendors during heat waves. These guidelines should be formally integrated into the NDMA framework, making the NDMA framework part and making it part. Saktiman Ghosh said in the letter.

Federal Deputy Secretary-General Mecanzy Dabre said the government must provide sufficient funds for the thermal action plan to inform the heat waves of the country for disasters and provide necessary support to street vendors.

Currently, a list of notifications eligible for National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) assistance includes cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, fires, fires, floods, tsunamis, hail, hail, landslides, avalanches, avalanches, cloud outbreaks, cloud outbreaks, pest attacks, fruits and cold waves.

However, state governments can use up to 10% of their annual SDRF allocation, but comply with certain conditions that can immediately provide relief for natural disasters they consider important in the local situation, even if not included in the Centre Notification List.

The state has previously asked the center to add events such as elephant attacks, lightning, heat waves, rivers and coastal erosion to obtain a qualified list of SDRF and NDRF funds.

Inclusion of heat wave needs under the Disaster Management Act

In answering a question, Joint Earth Science Minister Jitendra Singh recently told Lok Sabha that the 15th Finance Committee checked the requests from the states to expand the list of notification disasters to include heat waves, but did not find the advantages.

Extreme heat and neutrons have claimed 10,635 lives in the 10-year period starting in 2013, according to government data.

During a very grim summer last year, India recorded about 42,000 suspected stroke cases and 143 heat-related deaths.

Public health experts say the number of deaths officially related to heat may be weakened, as 20% to 30% of stroke cases usually lead to death.

The weather department said the country could experience higher than normal temperatures in normal temperatures from April to June, with more heatwave days in central India and north-west plains.

During this period, some states including eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha are expected to have 10 to 11 heat wave days during this period.

2024 is also the warmest record in India and the world.

The NHF is active in all 29 states and claims to represent more than 1,500 street vendor unions.