Maharashtra’s climate crisis: Traditional practices, modern promises fail to quench rural thirst

In Maharashtra’s Satara, Mann Desh, a region deeply rooted in the Dhangar community’s nomadic traditions, struggles with a severe water crisis. Despite centuries of shepherding the Deccan Plateau and surviving on their expertise to find water, the community continues to face dire shortages.

In today’s tech-driven world, basic water supply remains elusive, and climate change has worsened the crisis, hitting farmers hard. In Mhaswad village, water supply reaches households only once every 12 days, leading to a dire situation for drinking, agriculture, and livestock. This scarcity also results in failed crops.

Gaikwad, a farmer from the region’s Karkhel, said that his farmfields have dried up and he has sold most of his cattle due to lack of water. His sons too have migrated to Mumbai to work as wage labourers.

Despite promises by politicians, global discourse on climate crises, and even the allocation of substantial funds towards water irrigation, the reality remains unchanged for regions such as Mann Desh. In this scenario, Panniwala Panda, a contractual government employee delivering water to people for a monthly salary of Rs 12,000, is the saviour for many locals. But his task too is compounded by inadequate water pipeline infrastructure and dwindling water reserves.

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This report has been produced in collaboration with PARI, an independent news platform focussed on rural India.