Maharashtra Issues SOP To Protect Informal Workers From Extreme Heat

Mandatory work-hour changes during heat alerts Under the SOP, during orange and red heat alerts work must be rescheduled to cooler hours (6 am–11 am and 4 pm–8 pm), a compulsory break from 12 noon to 4 pm has been mandated. The guidelines are particularly aimed at workers exposed to direct heat, including street vendors, construction and daily wage labourers, sanitation workers, traffic personnel, gig and delivery workers, rickshaw pullers, and porters. Focus on high-risk districts The SOP will be enforced in 15 highly heat-vulnerable districts identified under the state’s Heat Action Plan, including Nagpur, Amravati, Chandrapur, Wardha, Latur, Nanded, Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar. Officials said the norms will also be implemented in other regions when heatwave-like conditions prevail. Cooling and hydration measures To reduce heat stress and dehydration, the SOP directs installation of water booths at markets, traffic junctions and transit hubs, distribution of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) and electrolytes through health centres and local bodies and creation of temporary shade structures in high-exposure work areas. Urban local bodies have also been asked to keep parks and gardens open during peak afternoon hours to provide access to cooler public spaces. Workplace safety and long-term planning The guidelines emphasise safety measures for women workers, including proper lighting and transport arrangements. In the long term, the government plans to upgrade dense work zones with permanent shade, cool roofs and improved water access, while encouraging employers and market associations to invest in cooling infrastructure. Capacity building initiative Mahajan also announced the setting up of a disaster management training and research centre in Nagpur, with an investment of Rs 184 crore, focusing on extreme heat conditions and sustainable cooling strategies. Maharashtra is among the most heat-vulnerable states in India, with regions such as Vidarbha, Marathwada and Khandesh facing increasingly severe summer conditions. The SOP is aimed at reducing heat-related illnesses and fatalities while ensuring continuity of livelihoods for vulnerable workers. (KNN Bureau)