The Heat Relief Alliance — Combating Extreme Heat

Mission & Origin Story: Ishan's motivation, summer heat in Northern India, internship at DLF

In 2024, the project, “The Heat Relief Alliance (THRA)”, was launched to address the concerns of heat waves which have a severe impact on the daily wage laborers distributed all across the northern part of India. The seed for this project came into being during my internship at the DLF Real Estate, wherein as I was studying the structures of different properties and the environment around the same, I noticed an acute lack of structures meant for the protection of socioeconomically marginalized laborers who are as much part of urban spaces as the privileged groups. Hence, THRA was launched with the primary mission of providing heat relief tools to the daily wage laborers who are the first victims of the heat wave problem that plagues the Indian subcontinent every year.

Key Initiatives

Heat Management Guide

The first step for this project was to carry out a thorough research into the problem of global warming responsible for severe heat waves, and chart out the impact of the same on populations disproportionately affected. Thus, a comprehensive guide came into existence that discusses the problem of heat waves as occurring in the northern parts of India over a historical trajectory, while highlighting the different vulnerable groups who need immediate attention in this context. The handbook also provides the examples of organizations who are already making remarkable attempts for the vulnerable groups, and thus, need more support from other organizations and government bodies. 

Portable Cooling Vest: Features, design, use cases

Implementing the principles of Design, the project brought out low-cost Cooling Vests, that are portable and help to temperature regulation of the body during extreme heat. The product was made using affordable materials that are easy to carry for individuals who are in constant motion. 

Relief Packs: Contents, distribution plan

As a material support, the project organized a fundraiser campaign, the proceeds from which were used in the preparation of Heat Relief packs containing sunglasses, cold compresses, oral-rehydration, sunscreens, and caps. 

App to track heat waves

In addition to the Relief Pack, the project also brought out a heat-wave alert software application that analyzed live meteorological APIs to provide timely forecasts about heat wave occurrences. Prioritizing accessibility, I focused on a simple and intuitive user interface, enabling users to receive location-based alerts and take preventive actions against extreme heat.

Fundraising Efforts

Crowdfunding updates

Project THRA organized an online fundraiser campaign to procure funds for the heat relief packs, targeting a collection of about Rs. 50,000 for the overall production and procurement process. 

Partnerships and donors

Partner NGO - Hamari Pahchan