Women children hit by drought
We may be continuously hearing about drastic flooding in many states of the country, yet there are a number of regions that are presenting more than enough proofs of drought situation in the country. While thousands of houses are drawn, people are homeless, humanity is displaced, in same states have many parts where farmers are looking at the sky in the hope of rain. However, somewhere they already have a feeling inside that nature is not so soft this year and finally it’s drought.
Drought situation in India got no coverage and attention
While 684 districts of India received normal, excess or large excess rainfall in their most parts,a total of 185 districts have reported below average rainfall by the end July 2020. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar andJharkhand are among states, which are half covered with flood and half facing drought.
We are into an impression that people are suffering with flood, other than battling the coronavirus pandemic this year. The bitter truth is that the plight of millions is also drought in the country. And this below average rain crisis has made the situation tougher for people during Covid 19 outbreak.
Many districts in above mentioned states, which saw excess of rains in June, have received below par rainfall in July. When many parts of country are still facing flood, Centre is giving no heed to cries of drought affected farmers. The agriculturists find themselves in confused state because they don’t know what to do without rains.
Rain deficiency hits Covid 19 measures
In the times of coronavirus outbreak, when washing your hands, body and things is a must do for keeping hygiene, drought situation has produced larger challenges in many parts of the country. The scarcity of water in many regions has hit the efforts to contain effects of coronavirus pandemic, say experts.
Rain deficiency and depletion of groundwater resources has contributed to current water emergency situation in these regions. Wealthy people’s increasing control on water resources has again immensely hit the marginalized ones. This has widen the gap of rich and poor in the country.
As per studies, the country is facing acute water stress. Its most populous states – Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh – are likely to see huge safe water and drinking water crisis. We are feared nearing zero day (no water day) in many cities of the country, say experts.
Women and children worst hit by drought
In the regions, which are under water crisis and drought, women and children suffer the most. Walking down from homes to miles away to fetch water remains most important daily chore for women in these areas. They have to spend around four hours a days for fetching drinking water home.
Many children have to miss their play after their schools. They run miles or even take trains to bring water home from far-flung areas. These women and children can dedicate this time for studies or other works. Other activities can help them take up opportunities to grow and improve their socio-economic status.
However, drought and water crisis in villages keep women and children apart from opportunities of self growth and development in their own little world. Water is an essential and we cannot do with it. Therefore, they have to sacrifice their socio-economic progress to fulfill the inevitable needs of life.
Life in the rural areas of India largely depends on clouds. And when the sky deceives village people, their progress stalls. What remained the first thing to do is to arrange water to drink and keep living amid rudeness of nature. In times when essential like safe water has become property of rich, government’s ignorance is more devastating for poor villagers of the country.
