health
How India’s heatwaves are shutting schools
Forced to stay home or switch jobs, working mothers are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis as classes go online for weeks or months at a time
TL;DR
- Extreme heatwaves in India are causing widespread school closures, impacting parents, especially working mothers.
- Mothers are forced to leave jobs or take lower-paying roles due to childcare demands during school disruptions.
- These closures lead to reduced household income, increased poverty risk, and decreased employer productivity.
- Children miss significant amounts of education, affecting their future potential.
- Lack of gender-sensitive climate action plans means women bear the disproportionate burden of climate disruption.
- While safety is a priority, emergency closures highlight the need for better infrastructure and planning for extreme weather events.
- The strain affects various sectors, including healthcare, with professionals like single mothers finding it difficult to maintain work schedules.