Kashmir, the northern state in India is commonly known as “Switzerland in India” for its cool climate, snowy winters and scenic beauty. As summers descend, thousands of tourist from various Indian states and other countries flock to Kashmir looking for respite from the heat. SEWA started organizing informal sector poor women in Kashmir in 2010 and has organized women from trades like agriculture, food processing and home-based work. Working with these women for over 14 years, SEWA has firsthand seen how the changing climate has increased the challenges for the local communities.
Print media and tourism websites describe the snow-covered peaks and scenic mountains… but little have we heard about the challenges faced by the local Kashmiri people due to climate change. Over the past few years, Kashmir Valley has also started experiencing the harsh impacts of climate change that has led to extreme heat in summers, extreme cold in winters and significantly reduced rainfall, leaving the people of Kashmir struggling with daily life. The impacts of climate change, coupled with pollution and population growth, have drastically altered the region’s environment, making it difficult for the community to adapt.
Rukaiyaben, SEWA’s grassroots leader from Kashmir says… “About 6 years back, temperatures never went above 26 C in entire Kashmir… this year it crossed 36C…For people from other parts of the country… these temperatures might not sound harsh… but for us Kashmiris, it is unbearable… our bodies are not used to this… and because we have been living in cold climate, we never drank a lot of water… so drinking water to keep oneself hydrated doesn’t come to us naturally… and we realize it only when we start falling sick due to dehydration… almost every other family has one-two member – especially children and women falling sick due to dehydration”
Till 2018, Kashmir typically experienced moderate temperatures from April to October, with averages around 20-25°C (59-68°F) and peak temp up to 27 C in July. However, in recent years, climate change has led to noticeable increase with temperatures ranging around 30 – 35 °C. The increase in temperatures has not just led to hot weather but also increased humidity due to which local people, especially children are suffering from symptoms like dehydration, heat strokes, and vector-borne diseases.
The heat has also disrupted daily routines; schools have shifted to morning sessions, and children get two summer vacations a year due to the unbearable heat. This has led to reduced number of school days and also increased child-care burden for the women.
“But climate change has not just led to increased heat. It has also led to reduced rainfall… previously, when temperatures reached 28 C, it would rain… the snow melted slowly… so water used to percolate in the ground… now… even at 35 C, it doesn’t rain… our fields have become barren… our rivers have become so small that one can even jump across it… filled with garbage, they have become more like sewers” … laments Dilshadben… a smallholder farmer from Gandarbal district.
The increased heat has also resulted in rapid melting of snow… due to this most of the water runs off, drying up rivers, ponds, and other water sources. This has severely impacted agriculture situation. Production of staple crops like Walnut, saffron, kidney beans etc. has plummeted by nearly 30%. The region’s staple crops such as root vegetables and paddy are failing, and even kitchen gardens, once a source of fresh produce, are now barren patches of land scorched by the sun.
“Even the winters are becoming harsher.. previously temperatures dipped to -3 C in winters. This year, they dipped to -8 C. In 2023, several villages in Gandarbal and Kupwara district experienced 5 – 6 ft of Snow cover. This has led to increased need for heating… previously we used to use “Kangari” for heating… but now we are forced to have “bukhari” (central heating) … due to this heating cost has increased by 40%...” says Sanjidaben, a poor artisan from Kupwara district.
Pollution and increased tourism has further compounded the problem. The once vibrant water bodies are now filled with garbage, rendering the water unusable for drinking or farming. Decline of agriculture coupled with increase in tourism has led the local youth to shift to livelihoods like taxi services, hotels and homestays etc. This has further led to rapid increase in pollution, increased vehicles and steep rise in water consumption – leading to intensifying the climate change impact… minimal rainfall in spring and low snowfall… resulting in scarcity of clean water causing many households struggling to meet their basic needs.
Understanding these challenges faced by its members, SEWA launched the “Building Cleaner Skies” campaign in 2022 that focuses on building awareness and education on climate change and its impact on the lives and livelihoods of the poor. SEWA’s grassroots leaders have started teaching through demonstrative pilots – adaptation / mitigation solutions like dry-waste composting to rejuvenate the land, tree plantation drive to restore the green cover.
“During the Navroj festival this year, we promoted large-scale tree plantation drive in our communities… we did awareness and education on the importance of tackling climate change and the importance of trees… We have resolved that we will not just plant trees but also take the responsibility to nurture them”… says Iqraben, from Gandarbal district
SEWA has also been conducting training sessions to educate the community on sustainable practices that can mitigate the impact of climate change in the coming years. By promoting awareness and providing practical solutions, SEWA is empowering the people of Kashmir to take control of their environment and future.
SEWA’s initiatives are providing much-needed support to the people of Kashmir during these trying times. From restoring farmland and installing hand pumps for drinking water to promoting environmental education, SEWA is helping the community adapt to the changing climate while working to restore the natural beauty of Kashmir. As the people of Kashmir face these unprecedented challenges, SEWA stands by their side, offering practical solutions and hope for a brighter, cooler future.
