Equitable Health Solutions for Rural India: Addressing Climate Change Challenges

India is experiencing the aftereffects of climate change in an unprecedented manner. While people in North India are struggling with extended heatwaves, with temperatures in the country’s capital soaring to a record-high of 52.3 degrees Celsius on May 29, the southern tip of Kerala is witnessing heavy rains. Vulnerable communities are disproportionately impacted by extreme weather conditions and can suffer from heat strokes as well as vector-borne and water-borne diseases.

In fact, Food and Agricultural Organisation’s recent report (‘Unjust Climate: Measuring the Impacts of Climate Change on Rural Poor, Women, and Youth’) underlines that poor households lose around five per cent of their total income annually due to heat stress compared to better-off households. The study also suggests that a one-degree Celsius rise in temperature increases poor households’ dependence on agriculture by 53 per cent compared to non-poor households, while decreasing their off-farm income opportunities by 33 per cent.

Similar studies also suggest that along with health threats, extreme weather conditions unleash a multi-pronged impact on the lives of rural populations, especially those dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. In view of this connection between public health, the rural economy, and climate change, experts believe that comprehensive strategies can go a long way in empowering rural communities.

“There is a collective need to develop solutions that enhance the sustainability of rural livelihoods against climate impacts. Sustainable agricultural practices, which are less dependent on erratic weather patterns, need to be promoted. One of the best examples is the adoption of natural techniques like multi-cropping, which involves planting a variety of crops together in a single field,” says Ashok Kumar, Director, Farm Prosperity, Transform Rural India (TRI), the NPO that is playing a key role in India’s rural empowerment through various meaningful initiatives.

He also highlights the need for landscape restoration. “Degraded lands are more vulnerable to heatwaves and soil erosion, further impacting rural livelihoods. Policymakers should design and implement public programmes that are innovative and responsive to the needs of rural communities,” adds Kumar.

Climate change also sets a perfect stage for the spread of parasitic and infectious diseases. Extreme weather events, altered rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures can disrupt ecosystems, making it easier for these diseases to spread and affecting the health of rural populations. Strengthening the primary healthcare system is one of the major solutions to address this issue. Considering the poor medical infrastructure in rural areas, utilising the strength of traditional and cultural health practices can also help prevent the outbreak of such diseases.

“Malnutrition continues to plague tribal regions, robbing communities of their vitality and potential; however, by empowering these populations with education rooted in Poly Scientific Ayurveda’s VPK42 Fingerprint analysis, we can unlock a wealth of personalized knowledge, enabling them to harness the power of nature’s bounty and develop sustainable strategies to combat malnutrition, restoring balance and well-being,” says Dr Ravishankar Polisetty, the pioneer of Poly Scientific Ayurveda (PSA).

He adds, “As climate change continues to disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems, indigenous and tribal communities, deeply connected to the land, bear the brunt of its consequences; however, by embracing the holistic principles of Poly Scientific Ayurveda, which harmonize traditional knowledge with modern science, we can not only mitigate the impact on these vulnerable populations but also pave the way for a sustainable future that heals our planet.”

This comprehensive approach to addressing the impact of climate change on rural communities is crucial for ensuring their resilience and well-being in the face of changing environmental conditions.