HINDU EDITORIAL ANALYSIS APRIL 8

The heat is on: protection during summer

A forecast of a below average monsoon in 2019, after last year’s erratic rainfall that flooded Kerala and crippled agriculture in eastern and western States, is a cause for worry. If the assessment from one agency, Skymet, is any indication, there is a prospect of an El Niño, often associated with drought conditions, taking hold. This must, of course, be considered along with other factors that seem to weaken the El Niño link, such as a dipole weather phenomenon in the Indian Ocean. Should the monsoon, which normally sets in between June 1 and July 15 across the country, turns out to be deficient, it will add to the pressures on rural employment and the economy as a whole. Things may become clearer when the India Meteorological Department also issues its forecast, although error margins and the erratic nature of rainfall in different regions render the exercise fraught with uncertainty. Last year, for instance, the realization of rainfall was 91% of the long-term average, while the prediction was for 97%. More immediately, India will go to the polls in the peak of summer after an intensive campaign. It is the responsibility of State administrations to prepare for the likelihood of a heat spike, particularly during April and May, to prevent loss of life and extreme distress to communities. Official agencies and NGOs should start adopting the drill on this, using the template drawn up by the National Disaster Management Authority.

The key elements of protection in a heat wave are avoiding exposure during the hottest part of the day around noon, especially in the case of senior citizens, staying adequately hydrated, wearing suitable clothing including headgear, and creating shade in public places. These messages and weather alerts can be disseminated through television, mobile phone messaging and social media platforms. Urban local bodies, in particular, have a responsibility to care for a large number of vulnerable city dwellers. Yet, few cities have drawn up proper heat action plans to respond to extreme weather or made them public. During the current year, there is apprehension that the focus of administrators will mainly be on the conduct of the elections, relegating the public health risk of heat waves to the backburner. With the availability of advance weather alerts, there is no reason why local bodies cannot institute remedial measures. Mitigating the effect of heat waves is vital to ensuring a high turnout in the elections by making it safe for voters. India is looking at another uncertain monsoon, bringing into sharp relief the neglected potential of decentralized water-harvesting. It is more than a decade since the National Commission on Farmers suggested the wider adoption of both rainwater harvesting and aquifer recharge, in order to provide irrigation for small farmers. It is time to take measures that will help communities achieve resilience.

The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary Wordlist

1) CRIPPLED (Adj)  = Disabled
Synonyms = Broken, Damaged.
Antonyms = Perfect, Unbroken.

2) PHENOMENON  (Noun) = Rare Occurrence

Synonyms = Anomaly, Aspect.
Antonyms = Normality , Regularity

3) FRAUGHT (Adj)  = Charged 
Synonyms = Filled , Replete.
Antonyms = Empty, Devoid.

4)ERRATIC (Adj)  = Abnormal 
Synonyms = Arbitrary, Bizzare.
Antonyms = Calm, Common.

5) ADEQUATELY (Adv) = Sufficiently
Synonyms = Decently, Appropriately.
Antonyms = Unequally, Inappropriately.

6) DISSEMINATE (Verb) = Advertise
Synonyms = Circulate, Disperse.
Antonyms = Conceal, Hide.

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