Building Resilience of Poor Women Communities against the impacts of Climate Change

Provision of Cool Roof - Fighting the "Slow But Potent Health Hazard - Heatwave".

State government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) has expressed desire to develop state-wide Heat Action Plans or HAPs for districts and cities across Uttar Pradesh in India. CHEC partner Mahila Housing Trust - MHT is expert in training city officials in Uttar Pradesh and will support the Lucknow district to develop Heat Action Plans. By actual demonstration of cool-roofs in Lucknow, the hope is to implelent them as part of the district Heat Action Plan.

Fighting the “Slow but Potent Health Hazard - Heatwave”

Rapid urban growth in cities of Uttar Pradesh like Lucknow, Kanpur, and Prayagraj has given rise to urban heat islands. This intensifies the effects of heatwaves, impacting public health, energy use, and discomfort.

The Uttar Pradesh state government has taken steps to address this issue by developing action plans, promoting adaptation and mitigation steps including renewable energy, cool roofs, initiating afforestation, and integrating climate resilience into policies. Emphasising community involvement and awareness-building is key to enhancing local resilience to climate change impacts. Mahila Housing Trust plans to address the issue of heat stress by providing Solar Reflective White Paint (SRWP) to the most vulnerable communities in Lucknow.

Mahila Housing Trust works with communities and cities on building resilience against extreme heat stress, a key concern in urban areas in India. It has implemented SRWP for 32,000+ households across the cities in India. MHT developed and implemented a Heat Action Plan for Jodhpur city, initiated a Climate Action Plan for Patan town and invited by the Lucknow Development Authority to develop district level HAP. Its inputs to Ahmedabad’s HAP has resulted in a citywide cool-roof program targeting the most vulnerable settlements. MHT has been invited by State Government of Bihar for providing technical inputs for climate resilience for livelihood under JEEViKA program. MHT’s work has been recognized nationally and internationally, has received numerous awards including Ashden Award for Cooling in Informal Settlements, United Nations Global Climate Action Award for Women’s Action Towards Climate Resilience for Urban Poor in South Asia, and United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Project Implementation, Outcomes, and Case Study

Identification of Beneficiaries
The selection criteria for beneficiaries were established during a meeting of the Community Action Group (CAG) in Shram Bihar Colony 2, Lucknow. Women CAG leaders played a key role in identifying the beneficiaries based on the following criteria:

  • Households belonging to the lowest income group

  • Households with at least one member suffering from non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, vision impairments, or those who have recently undergone surgery

  • Households with a pregnant woman or lactating motherHouseholds with elderly members

Identification of Vendors and Procurement of Paint
Solar Reflective White Paint (SRWP) with a Solar Reflective Index (SRI) of over 100 was procured from a vendor supplying products from a reputed company. This ensured the quality and effectiveness of the paint for the intended purpose.

Implementation of SRWP
In the slum areas, roofs are often used as storage spaces due to limited household space. Additionally, they tend to be uneven and covered with dust. Beneficiaries were instructed to clean their roofs before the application of the Solar Reflective White Paint, a process that required significant time and effort. The paint was applied in three coats —horizontally and vertically— on the roofs in order to maximize its effectiveness. 53 households were provided with the SRWP.

A Case Study

Kirmala Devi Mahender Ram, a sewing machine operator, has been residing in Shram Bihar Colony 2 for the past 25 years with her husband and son. Her husband is a daily wage laborer, and her son is currently pursuing his studies. Due to the low and uncertain income of her husband, Kirmala serves as the primary breadwinner of the family. Their house consists of two rooms within a compact 10x10 foot area. Through the efforts of MHT, she gained access to a sewer-line connection and a household-level toilet, significantly improving their living conditions.

Kirmala was delighted when the CAG identified her house for the implementation of SRWP. Upon visiting her household, the MHT team observed that the roof was covered with wooden sticks used for cooking fuel, as well as fallen leaves due to the wind. Additionally, the roof had broken sections, making it difficult to clean. Suffering from cataracts, Kirmala faced challenges in preparing the roof for painting. It took nearly a week to clean, with assistance from her son and a neighbour. Eventually, she applied the SRWP herself with the help of her son. Her cataract surgery was conducted after the completion of the painting process.

Reflecting on her experience, Kirmala shared, "This year, the heat started as early as the end of February. The SRWP has been extremely beneficial, especially after my surgery. Previously, I had to go outside and sit under a tree in the afternoons during summer, which prevented me from working. My income dropped from Rs. 8,000-10,000 per month to just Rs. 5,000. However, this March, I did not experience such discomfort! I am grateful to the CAG of my area and the MHT team for providing SRWP."

  • Lucknow, India

  • 1st November 2024 - 15 March 2025

  • Reduced indoor temperatures: SRWP reduces heat absorbed by dwellings, leading to cooler indoor temperatures. It enhances comfort and liveability of poor dwellings, in summer months.

    Improved well-being and health: Cooler living spaces reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses including vulnerable populations like elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

    Climate resilience: By reducing urban heat island effect, it contributes to increased climate resilience in slum areas.

    Awareness, capacity building: Raise awareness among slum dwellers regarding causes, impacts and mitigation strategies.

  • Implementation of SRWP
    In the slum areas, roofs are often used as storage spaces due to limited household space. Additionally, they tend to be uneven and covered with dust. Beneficiaries were instructed to clean their roofs before the application of SRWP, a process that required significant time and effort. The paint was applied in three coats—horizontally and vertically—on the roofs maximize its effectiveness. 53 households were provided with the SRWP.


Project Photos