To fetch a pail of water: For Maharashtra’s women farmers, a cycle of debt and drought

Disha Jadhav, a nine-year-old girl, begins her day before sunrise, joining her family in their shared responsibility of fetching water from a nearby borewell. Her 60-year-old grandmother, Asabai Jadhav, assists by filling her pitcher and carrying it home on her head. This daily labor is a struggle for Disha, who feels burdened by the responsibility.

The Maharashtra government declared a drought in 265 out of the state’s 358 talukas in September, citing the worst crisis since 1972. The lack of rainfall during the crucial kharif crop season and receding Southwest monsoon has exacerbated the situation. With the borewell expected to run dry soon, the Jadhav family and many others in the region are forced to find alternative sources of water.

Sonali Aditrao, a 39-year-old woman, works on her neighbor's sugarcane field, earning Rs 300 a day. However, she faces an additional challenge of fetching water from a school tap, as her family's nearby borewell is almost dry. Her day starts around 5 am, with her husband and daughter joining her in the quest for water, a task that consumes a significant portion of their time and energy.