Case Study: A vegetable vendor builds climate resilience through a ‘Heat Insurance’ scheme

Lilaben, a 50-year-old vegetable hawker in Ahmedabad, faced severe heatwave conditions last summer that caused health issues like heat stroke and boils, as well as business losses due to spoiled vegetables. Her family, including her husband (an autorickshaw driver), also lost ten days of income due to the extreme heat. After learning about the Climate Risk Insurance (CRI) scheme through a training workshop by Mahila Housing Trust (MHT), she enrolled in the scheme in February 2024. When temperatures exceeded 43.7°C, she received INR 750, which she used to restock her business. Lilaben is committed to self-financing the scheme in the future and spreading awareness to others in her community. She also suggests including excess rain coverage in future CRI plans.