Insuring the informal worker against the heat (opens original article in a new tab)

A heat-insurance scheme in Delhi-NCR provides payouts to informal workers when temperatures exceed thresholds, funded by philanthropic organizations and partners, with studies showing some behavioral changes but challenges in affordability.

• Informal workers in Delhi-NCR received payouts under a heat-insurance scheme when temperatures exceeded thresholds
• Parametric insurance triggers payouts based on weather data without requiring claims or premiums
• Philanthropic organizations and partners fund the scheme as no state government runs a similar program for workers
• A study found that cash payments helped workers adjust schedules during heatwaves but many cannot afford to pay for coverage themselves