A Museum of People’s Heatwave Experiences Unveiled by Greenpeace India

In a brand new exhibition, Greenpeace India’s Museum of Memories sheds light on the profound human impact of unrelenting heat waves. Displayed at the Triveni Kala Sangam, the exhibit features over 50 objects and art installations that tell powerful stories of devastation, resilience, and hope from families across India deeply affected by extreme weather events. Through this exhibition, Greenpeace India calls for immediate governmental action to address the escalating heatwave crisis by declaring heatwaves as a notified national disaster.

Amruta SN, a campaigner with Greenpeace India, emphasized the urgent need for a human-centric approach to climate discussions. “A lot of climate conversations revolve around data and statistics. As important as these numbers are in assessing the current state of the climate crisis, those behind these numbers are real people, with aspirations, lives, and loved ones. The Museum of Memories is a reminder that the heatwave crisis is a humanitarian crisis,” she said. Amruta highlighted the recent media reports on the suffering and fatalities caused by heatwaves, stressing that these are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a larger climate crisis.

Data from 1992 to 2015 reveals that 24,223 Indians lost their lives to heatwaves. Despite this alarming statistic, heatwaves have not received the public attention they warrant. The response from both central and state governments has been largely reactive, with limited focus on risk reduction. Without the official designation of heatwaves as a national disaster, state governments can only allocate up to 10 percent of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for relief and mitigation measures.

Nitin Sethi, founder-editor of The Reporters’ Collective, criticized the lack of systemic response to heatwaves. “The government doesn’t acknowledge heatwaves as a disaster. Therefore, it does not have in place a systemic and proportionate response to heat waves, even on paper. It is callous to ignore a phenomenon that is set to visit us annually, almost without fail,” he said. Sethi pointed out the disproportionate impact on poorer citizens, particularly on their health, lives, and livelihoods.

One of the exhibit’s poignant pieces is a bright yellow and blue toy truck belonging to a young boy named Bittu from Manjhave, Jharkhand. Bittu tragically passed away from heat exhaustion in April 2023 while en route to a family gathering. Last April marked one of India’s harshest summers, with over 60 percent of the country experiencing temperatures above normal.

The exhibit also features photo stories by independent journalist Bhumika Saraswati, who documented the impact of heatwaves on women working outdoors in Uttar Pradesh. “The heat is intense. So many women are unable to go to work and are therefore unable to earn money. Several of them have fallen sick because of the heat. This is a daily loss for many women. We need measures to be put in place, especially for the informal sector, particularly women. Heat has to be declared as a national disaster,” she asserted.

The Museum of Memories is open from June 9th to 22nd at the Triveni Kala Sangam in Delhi. As part of the People for Climate campaign, Greenpeace India will release a report on June 14th documenting the heatwave experiences of street vendors in Delhi. Greenpeace India urges the government to recognize heatwaves as a national disaster. Visitors to the exhibit and the general public are encouraged to Support this initiative by signing the petition available at the exhibit and online.

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