Effects of heat waves and coping mechanisms of communities: a case study of two districts in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
Student name: Ms K. Nikita Naidu
Guide: Dr Kamna Sachdeva
Year of completion: 2017
Host Organisation: Institute of Rural Management Anand, Gujarat
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Pramod K. Singh
Abstract: Extreme climatic events in the form of heat waves have taken a stronghold in
India more visibly since 2015. Severe heat weather can show a micro level
effect ranging from dried soils and vegetation, wildfires, evaporating water
bodies, all leading to decreasing habitat sizes and most of all affecting
populations of animal and humans.
Two states in India stand out in numbers of reported deaths during heat
waves. It is important to understand how they respond to the impacts of heat
waves and their strategies of coping. For this, a perception based study is
imperative. This study records mainly farmer communities perspectives and
has been conducted in the rural areas of two districts, namely, Kurnool of
AndhraPradesh and Karimnagar of Telangana. Ten villages have been
sampled in each district. Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) approach has
been utilized to capture pathways for possible heat wave resistant lifestyles in
the affected regions. Future heat wave days have also been obtained from the
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) to aid in evaluating the
requirement and effectiveness of the maps created.
Assimilating perspectives of the stake holders, their local knowledge and
informed opinions is the key to creating inclusive policies and developing
strategies for heat wave resilient lifestyles and future actions.
Key words: Heat Wave, Rural India, Effects, Coping Mechanisms,
Perception based FCM.
