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Economy
Jun 22, 2026
Analyzed by GPT OSS 120B

India’s Heatwaves Shut Schools, Driving Women Out of the Workforce

AI Summary
Extreme heatwaves across Delhi and half of India’s states have forced schools to close from mid‑May to June, leaving families to juggle childcare and work. The closures are hitting women hardest, forcing many to quit jobs or take lower‑paid work, deepening household financial strain and widening gender inequality in the labour market.

Record temperatures above 41°C have prompted authorities in Delhi and roughly half of India’s states to order school closures from mid‑May until end of June, a move that is reshaping household economics and pushing women out of the formal workforce.

Heatwave‑Driven School Closures Sweep Across Delhi and Beyond

  • Schools in Delhi and about 14 of India’s 28 states ordered to shut for the summer break.
  • No official historic record, but officials say days lost to heat have risen sharply.
  • Families like Sakshi Katyal in Noida face indefinite closures, with reopening not expected until autumn.

Financial Strain on Households: Mortgage, Rent, and Lost Wages

  • The Katyal family now relies on a single income while paying a monthly mortgage of roughly ₹50,000 (£390).
  • Domestic worker Zeenat Khatoon earns about ₹8,000 a month, of which ₹5,000 goes to rent.
  • Khatoon pays a caretaker ₹600 monthly to supervise her children during school closures, cutting back on groceries.
  • Another mother, Surbi Devi, lost nearly a month of wages during last summer’s closures.

Gendered Economic Fallout: Women Bear the Brunt of Climate‑Induced Disruptions

A labour economist (anonymous) warns that the majority of women are forced either to stay home or to shift into precarious, lower‑paying jobs to care for children, reducing household income and pushing families closer to poverty. The loss of education for children also threatens long‑term earning potential, compounding the gender gap.

What Lies Ahead: Policy Gaps and the Need for Climate‑Resilient Education

Experts argue that without forward‑looking policies—such as climate‑adapted school infrastructure, flexible childcare support, and worker protections—heatwave‑driven closures will continue to erode women’s labour force participation. Immediate action is required to integrate climate resilience into education planning to safeguard both economic stability and gender equity.