Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) observed International Labour Day today
at Pratap Nagar Thiya in Nagpur with construction workers, drawing urgent attention to the growing climate
vulnerability faced by informal labourers.
The programme focused on raising awareness about labour rights, labour helpline services, and the historical
significance of Labour Day, while centering discussions on the disproportionate impacts of climate change on
construction workers. With Nagpur witnessing increasingly intense and prolonged heat waves, construction
workers who depend on daily wage labour remain among the most exposed, often spending several hours
outdoors at labour congregation points (thiyas) without access to shade, drinking water, or basic protection.
Highlighting the immediate health risks, including heat stress, dehydration, and reduced work capacity, YUVA
distributed ORS packets among construction workers as a preventive measure against extreme heat conditions.
Mr. Nitin Meshram, Project Lead at YUVA, emphasized that climate change is no longer a distant concern but a
lived reality for informal workers. He stated that construction workers stand for hours at thiyas in search of
employment, directly exposed to rising temperatures and heat waves. He strongly called for the provision of
shaded structures and accessible drinking water facilities at all thiyas across Nagpur, stressing that these are
essential climate adaptation measures. He further noted that thiyas function as the first point of livelihood for
workers and must be recognized as critical public spaces requiring basic infrastructure and protection.
Ms. Kiran Thakre shared the history and significance of International Labour Day, linking past struggles of
workers with present-day challenges posed by climate change. Mr. Nilesh Khadase informed workers about
labour helpline numbers and encouraged them to access institutional support systems.
YUVA reiterates that addressing climate vulnerability must become central to urban labour policies,
particularly for informal workers who face the dual burden of economic insecurity and environmental risk.
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