Water Warriors: Leading Charge Against Drought In Marathwada

Droughts yearly affect an estimated 55 million people globally according to WHO. These are the most serious hazard to livestock and crops in nearly every part of the world impacting many areas. They have harmful effects on livestock and crops, death and diseases, and extensive out-migration. Moreover, evidence indicates that worldwide the no. of droughts continue to rise.

Since unique environmental conditions exist everywhere, there is no set definition of drought. However, prolonged periods of dry spells and water deficiency in a particular area are generally termed drought. Historically, the Marathwada region has faced droughts in Maharashtra, which have recurringly caused major water scarcity, impacting agriculture, livestock, and general quality of life.

Impact Of Drought

Droughts can profoundly impact the health of affected populations, potentially increasing the risk of disease and mortality. These impacts may be both acute and chronic, including:

• Malnutrition stemming from reduced food availability, including micronutrient deficiencies such as iron-deficiency anemia;
• Heightened susceptibility to infectious diseases like cholera, diarrhea, and pneumonia, due to acute malnutrition, inadequate water and sanitation, and population displacement;
• Psychosocial stress and mental health disorders;
• Disruption of local health services caused by lack of water supplies, diminished purchasing power, migration, and/or the departure of healthcare workers.
• Additionally, severe droughts can degrade air quality by exacerbating wildfires and dust storms, thereby elevating health risks for individuals with pre-existing lung or heart conditions.

Based on this account, we can distinguish public participation in drought in this region into three types of efforts: non profit participation, community mobilization, and water conservation projects.

The Non Profit Involvement

Numerous non-governmental organizations, focusing on rural development and water conservation, play a pivotal role in drought mitigation efforts. They deploy water tankers to deliver supplies to parched communities, establish temporary water storage structures, and assist in providing food, medical support, and essential resources. NGOs such as MANAVLOK, Vikas Sahyog Pratishthan, and others frequently mobilize funds, launch awareness campaigns, and promote sustainable solutions, including rainwater harvesting and watershed management.

The Community Mobilization

Local communities frequently unite to deliver prompt alleviation. This encompasses arranging community kitchens, sharing water supplies, and consolidating financial and material assistance. Self-help assemblages in rural locales also back drought-impacted families through small-scale loans or by aiding them in accessing resources from more expansive relief networks.

Water Conservation Projects

Alongside emergency measures, public support has also enabled long-term drought mitigation initiatives. These encompass afforestation programs, rainwater harvesting projects, and the construction of check dams. By raising awareness and engagement, local communities and public sector initiatives collaborate to implement sustainable water conservation strategies that can help alleviate the impact of future droughts.

Broadly when we speak about water, there are and will be many issues and ways in which it can impact us, but when we talk about water as a necessity in our daily lives, water is the responsibility of a woman. Women have historically been the water managers of the household which involves estimating the need, fetching, storing, etc. of water for their household usage.

On a national level, as per the NITI Aayog’s report, 600 million people, nearly half of India’s population, face extreme water stress. Three-fourths of rural households in the country do not receive piped/potable water and depend on open sources, which is a serious health risk.

Women Training Under Jal Jeevan Mission

Under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), women train to perform water quality testing, sanitary inspections, and lead initiatives to maintain water infrastructure. Programs like these help women transition from passive users to active decision-makers in the water sector. Women’s inclusion in governance through Pani Samitis (village-level water committees) is a key step toward ensuring equitable and sustainable water management.

There is a shift in the mindset of these water managers now as they are emerging as more than just tools and means for walking long distances to procure water, but these women are emerging as catalysts, and leaders within the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector.

Specifically talking about Marathwada and the women contributors here, the women-led conservation movements have been transformative, especially considering the area being drought-prone. Women indulge in efforts like water-efficient irrigation systems such as micro-irrigation systems to build farm ponds and conserve water, there is now more say of women in the selection of crop choices, resource usage, and community-level water management strategies, establishing themselves as key agents of agriculture decision making.

These efforts have not only improved water conservation but also addressed food security, boosted local economies, and reduced vulnerability to climate shocks.

Rejuvenation Of Water Bodies

MANAVLOK, a grassroots organization in Ambajogai, Beed district is a very good example of the effective usage of the rejuvenation of waterbodies to cater to the water sources of the area. Rejuvenation of water bodies (RWB) revives the traditional practice of silt removal which in turn farmers use on their land as natural fertilizers.

Farmers also actively participate here since they bear the transportation cost of the silt, which is 75% of the total cost. Farmers use this silt to improve the fertility and productivity of the land. This sustainable approach towards agricultural use has created an equal and stable nature of the removal and use of silt. Some of the visible outcomes of RWB are the ability of the water body to capture and recharge has increased from 26% to 66%, water retention has gone up from 16% to 45%, and around 400,000 people across gram panchayats have seen this water transformation.

The impact can be seen in numerous women’s accounts documented as part of the case study of Beed.

Women mentioned how earlier, water scarcity used to force them to stand in a line for 2-3 hours at a stretch. And yet there used to be very little water for use. This used to hinder their daily routine, as water is a necessity. There were accounts of hostile incidents as well where women grabbed other women in an attempt to secure more water for themselves. They used the same dirty water for multiple things, like washing clothes, and hands, etc. which is not hygienic. But now abundant water is available according to women, who handle the entire water management of the house, managing water needs for cleaning, washing, cooking, etc.

Also Read: The Real Story Behind Paani

Challenges Still

Even though the scenario at hand points to a very merry picture, there are still challenges in the empowerment of women in the water sector. Unless women are in the water planning designing, management, and operations of water supply at the water boards and PHEDs, there cannot be substantial change in the core policies or a design where the participants who work around water truly benefit.

Women’s inclusion in water has to be driven. It should be mainstream and an objective tool to attain other development goals. The first important step is empowering women with tap water at home, educating them to decide on the water they consume and protecting their drinking water sources wilfully. This to lead them to living a healthy and hygienic life. These efforts highlight women’s transformative role in water management, emphasizing the intersection of gender equity and sustainable development.

Reference: Women Empowerment In The Water Sector In India