While a major portion of south India is reeling under severe drought, many women from Kerala's Palakkad district have gone against all odds to dig as many as 180 wells to ensure availability of drinking water.
In the village of Pookottukavu, there are many stories of struggle have come to light. Some have sold their cattles after not being able to provide fodder and water, reported Hindustan Times.
One of the women well-diggers says that they never had any previous experience of digging wells but their collective spirit helped them learn the trick easily.
In Ottapalam town, considered as the male bastion, women have managed to break the age-old norms of digging deep wells by men. Wearing coloured lungis and shirt, the women are engaged in hard labour in search of water.
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In October last year, Kerala government declared the state as drought-hit in view of the sharp decrease in rainfall during the south west monsoon and said that Centre would be approached for necessary assistance to meet the emergency situation.
The government had brought out a list containing 26 guidelines to address the drought situation. All district collectors were asked to follow the guidelines which included steps to reduce the usage of water, recycle used water, set out priority for water usage.
Similarly, in Karnataka is also facing a severe water crisis for the fourth consecutive season According to a Financial Express report, less than 20% water is left in 9 of Karnataka’s 12 dams.
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Bengaluru may face drinking water crisis by the month of May this year. Currently, 160 of 176 taluks in Karnataka have been declared drought-hit. The rainfall has come down by 40-70% between August and December bringing down the agricultural production to half, the report adds.
