The recent Joshimath tragedy and many other disasters have highlighted the fact that women face severe health issues, besides emotional turmoil, in coping with the crisis and relief measures have failed to lessen their agony, writes Biswajeet Banerjee

On January 28, women who were shifted to relief camps in Joshimath after their houses developed cracks following subsidence in the area, gheraoed district officials and asked how long they had to stay in makeshift accommodations which compromised their privacy and health.

“The conditions in which we are living are unhygienic. Three to four families are staying in one big room. Students cannot study and women are facing health issues due to lack of privacy and dirty toilets which we are forced to use,” said Hima Devi, who was forced to leave her house in Singhdhar.

Insomnia, anxiety and uncertainty torments most residents in relief camps but the protest by women exposed officials to a grim reality — they never planned about women and their specific needs while arranging relief for people who were shifted to makeshift camps. “Women are the biggest sufferers in any tragedy and we ignored their basic needs,” admitted Ranjit Sinha, a senior Uttarakhand officer looking after relief and rehabilitation.

In October last year, incessant rains flooded large parts of Uttar Pradesh, forcing millions of people to leave their villages and move into relief camps. “Women and young girls, who braved the flooding,  suffered from urinary tract infections (UTIs), reproductive issues and other health complications for many months despite returning to their villages after the water receded,” Dr Neelima Singh of Vatsalya, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) said.

Manjula Singh, a health worker at the Primary Health Centre in Baasi (Siddharthnagar), who was posted in one of the relief camps, said that most of the women she met complained of abdominal cramps, excessive bleeding and unusual discharge during their menstrual periods and many had to use unsanitised cloth during their periods. The government had provided ration, including kerosene, but did not provide enough sanitary pads for women,” she said.

Dr Madhu Gupta, a former legislator of the Samajwadi Party and practicing gynaecologist in Lucknow, said in cases of natural calamities, women suffer shock because of trauma and anxiety due to the stress they experience. “Unhygienic personal care, using the same cloth for longer periods, holding urine for longer periods, using contaminated water for drinking and washing purposes, makes their life hell,” she said.

The impact of climatic catastrophies and extreme weather events, such as floods and heat waves, have also been found to be disproportionately affecting women and girls. Activists and health professionals raised an alarm because women in India play a significant role in addressing natural calamities, particularly in rural and agrarian communities where they are often responsible for the management of natural resources, such as water and forests. They are also often the primary caretakers of families and communities, which makes them particularly vulnerable to the impact of such disasters.

In rural areas, women are often responsible for collecting water and firewood for their families. As the frequency and intensity of droughts increase, women and girls have to travel further to find resources, putting them at risk of physical harm and sexual violence. In addition, women in agriculture-dependent communities are particularly vulnerable to the impact of changing weather patterns, which can lead to crop failures and food insecurity. Indigenous women, who have deep connections with the land and natural resources, are also facing new challenges as the impact of climate change disrupts their life. This can lead to a loss of cultural identity and exacerbation of poverty.

“In India, women are often involved in agriculture and play a crucial role in food security. They are also responsible for collecting firewood and water, tasks that become more difficult as a result of climate change. Studies have shown that climate change disproportionately affects women, as they have fewer resources and less decision-making power to adapt to its impact,” says Shruti Nagvanshi, convener of Voice of People. In addition, the impact of climate change can exacerbate violence against women, as migration and displacement can increase the risks of sexual violence and exploitation.

Climate Action Network South Asia’s recent report on climate-induced displacement and migration in India states that 4.5 crore people in the country will be forced to migrate by 2050 because of climate disasters, three times more than the present figure.

“Climate change-induced disasters,  displacement and migration increases the burden on women considerably, adding up to 12-14 hours of work that includes agricultural work and household chores,” the report said, and added: “The phenomenon of ‘feminisation’ of agriculture has been observed in all research locations.”

Gender-biased climate

change policy

Despite facing so many hardships, why are women not the fulcrum of any climate change policy? There are several reasons why women may be under-represented in climate change policy in India and other countries. One reason is the lack of representation of women in leadership and decision-making roles. In India, women hold less than 25 per cent of leadership positions in the government, businesses, and civil society, which means that their perspective and needs are not adequately represented in the development and implementation of climate change policies.

This leads to lack of consideration of the unique impact of climate change on women and their specific needs in policy planning and implementation. For example, women in rural areas may have limited access to resources and technology to adapt to the changing environment, and may also face added burden in responsibilities of daily chores.

“It is important for governments and organisations to actively consider the gender impact of climate change in their policies and programmes, and to ensure equal participation by women in decision-making processes. This includes providing resources and technology to help women adapt to the changing environment, and addressing systemic inequalities that contribute to their increased vulnerability,” says Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi, CEO of Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR).

Jyoti Parikh, Director, of Integrated Research and Action for Development, in one of her papers, ‘Is climate change a gender issue’, highlighted that this disproportionate burden of climate change that women bear should prompt the government to develop strategies to enhance women’s access and control over natural resources.

“The knowledge and participation of women has been critical in the survival of entire communities in disasters. Therefore, the government should recognise their specialised skills in livelihood management in mitigation and adaptation measures,” she said.

Another reason is the lack of data and information on the impact of climate change on women and their role in addressing it. This can make it difficult for policymakers to understand and address the specific needs and challenges faced by women, and to design policies and programmes that are effective in addressing them.

“Efforts are needed to address these issues and ensure that women's voices and perspectives are included in climate change policy and decision-making, both in India and in other countries. This can be achieved by increasing the representation of women in leadership positions, collecting gender-disaggregated data, and implementing targeted programmes and policies that address the specific needs and challenges faced by women,” Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi said.

It is crucial for the Indian government and international organisations to recognise the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and to include them in decision-making processes as they develop and implement climate change policies and programmes. This includes providing resources and technology to help women adapt to the changing environment, and addressing systemic inequalities which contribute to their increased vulnerability.

Government response

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav said that the Government of India had recognised the importance of women in the sustainable management of natural resources and had taken steps to ensure their participation in the design and implementation of policies and programmes related to climate change. The National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), for example, prioritises the empowerment of women and their participation in the sustainable management of natural resources.

In addition, he said, the government had also taken steps to ensure that women’s perspectives were included in the design and implementation of policies and programmes related to climate change through the formation of a National Gender and Climate Change Alliance. This alliance aims to build the capacity of women’s organisations and networks to engage with climate change issues and to provide a platform for women to participate in decision-making processes.

“However, much still needs to be done to ensure that women are able to fully participate in the design and implementation of climate change policies and that their specific needs and concerns are taken into account. This includes increasing the representation of women in leadership positions, collecting gender-disaggregated data, and implementing targeted programmes and policies that address the specific needs and challenges faced by women,” Yadav said.

(Biswajeet Banerjee is Political Editor, The Pioneer, Lucknow)