கஙக வடடர மரபச சழலயல அறவம வபபத தழவலம வளண தழலளரகளககன தமழவழத தகவல தடரபத தலயடடன மதபபட: Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Heat Adaptation in the Kongu Region: An Evaluation of a Tamil-Language Communication Intervention for Agricultural Workers

Rising temperatures, water scarcity and variable rainfall affect agriculture and the working conditions of agricultural labourers. This article proposes an approach to heat adaptation that brings together traditional ecological knowledge from the Kongu region and contemporary climate information. It examines representations of nature, heat, rainfall, water and agriculture in Sangam literature, the Tirukkural, Silappathikaram and Periyapuranam through a literary and ecological reading. The proposed field component would document local knowledge through interviews and observation and inform a Tamil-language communication intervention covering safer work scheduling, drinking water, rest and shade. Pre-intervention and post-intervention assessments would examine changes in workers’ knowledge, comprehension and protective practices. The article also outlines a context-sensitive model for connecting literary interpretation, local experience and scientific guidance. Literary evidence provides a cultural basis for the approach; the effectiveness of the proposed intervention remains to be established through field evaluation.