Unfair Heat: Caste and Work in India's Scorching Waves

India's climate is heating up, and not everyone is feeling the burn equally. The caste system, a social hierarchy rooted in India's history, is making certain groups more vulnerable to extreme heat. This isn't just about who's who in society; it's about who's working where and when. The 2019 and 2022 heat waves didn't just bring high temperatures, they also brought an uncomfortable spotlight on the country's social divisions. Researchers combined two powerful tools to reveal this pattern: satellite imagery and survey data. They looked at how heat stress affected different groups based on their caste, and the results were eye-opening. Marginalized caste groups were exposed to much higher heat stress than dominant caste groups. Even when other factors like age, gender, and economic status were accounted for, the difference was stark. This suggests that the caste system isn't just about social status, but also about who's stuck doing the most physically demanding work in the harshest conditions. The findings highlight a critical point about climate adaptation and mitigation plans. They need to consider the social order and who's doing what kind of labor. It's not just about dividing tasks, but also about addressing the unfair division of laborers. This is where caste inequality comes into play. High temperatures are not just a physical challenge, they're also a social one. Understanding the pattern of exposure to heat waves requires a deeper look at who is doing what kind of work. This is where the caste system comes into play. It's a system that divides society into groups based on their traditional occupations. This division of laborers creates a hierarchy where some groups are more exposed to harsh working conditions. This is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, where extreme heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense. The caste system is a complex social structure that has evolved over centuries. It's a system that divides society into groups based on their traditional occupations. This division of laborers creates a hierarchy where some groups are more exposed to harsh working conditions.This is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, where extreme heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense. The caste system is a complex social structure that has evolved over centuries. It's a system that divides society into groups based on their traditional occupations. This division of laborers creates a hierarchy where some groups are more exposed to harsh working conditions. This is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, where extreme heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense. While the caste system is a complex social structure that has evolved over centuries. It's a system that divides society into groups based on their traditional occupations. This division of laborers creates a hierarchy where some groups are more exposed to harsh working conditions. This is particularly relevant in the context of climate change, where extreme heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense. This is a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. This is a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. This is a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. This is a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. It's a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. This is a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. This is a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. This is a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. This is a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. This is a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. This is a big challenge in a country where the labor force is heavily reliant on traditional occupations. The findings also highlight the potential of combining satellite imagery and demographic data to understand complex social and environmental issues. The findings also highlight the potential of combining satellite imagery and demographic data to understand complex social and environmental issues. This approach can provide a detailed and accurate picture of how different groups are affected by environmental changes. This approach can provide a detailed and accurate picture of how different groups are affected by environmental changes. It can also help identify the most vulnerable groups and inform targeted interventions. It can also help identify the most vulnerable groups and inform targeted interventions. This approach can provide a detailed and accurate picture of how different groups are affected by environmental changes. It can also help identify the most vulnerable groups and inform targeted interventions. This approach can provide a detailed and accurate picture of how different groups are affected by environmental changes. It can also help identify the most vulnerable groups and inform targeted interventions.