How Will the Marathwada Drought Be a History After the Water Grid Initiative?

Introduction to the Marathwada Drought

The Marathwada region, encompassing the districts of Latur, Beed, Usmanabad, Parbhani, Nanded, Hingoli, Aurangabad, and Jalna in Maharashtra, is facing a severe drought crisis. Years of failed monsoons, depleted groundwater tables, and over-exploitation of water resources have culminated in acute water scarcity, crippling the region's economy and posing a significant threat to the livelihoods of its inhabitants. This has led to a humanitarian crisis, particularly affecting farmers and local communities.

Retail Transformation Programme of Reliance Foundation

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Reliance Foundation (RF) has been working for the past seven years under its flagship Rural Transformation program to provide long-term solutions to Maharashtra's water woes. However, with the region still facing acute water scarcity, immediate relief is paramount.

Mission Rahat: Addressing Immediate Water Needs

Mission Rahat - Marathwada is a robust initiative launched by Reliance Foundation in response to the urgent water crisis. RF, in collaboration with local government agencies, has identified 100 of the most distressed villages in the Latur, Hingoli, Jalna, and Nanded districts. Through this initiative, RF has established a system to supply over 50,000 families with drinking water, with each village receiving 2-4 water tankers per day. This ensures equitable and safe distribution of water to the people hardest hit by the drought. RF's efforts are designed to provide immediate relief until the monsoon season arrives.

Complementary Community Welfare Programs

RF has also been working with local communities in Beed since November 2015 to mitigate the impact of the drought. This approach combines modern technology with traditional wisdom to find sustainable solutions. Some of the key areas of focus include:

Helping Women

Traditionally, fetching water is the responsibility of women, who spend hours every day walking long distances to collect water. To address this, RF has installed 25 water tanks in 25 villages in the Kaij block of Beed district, supplementing the drinking water needs of 28,000 people. This initiative has significantly alleviated the daily burden on women and has improved their overall health and well-being.

Rescuing Cattle

To support the drinking water needs of cattle, RF has also constructed 11 traditional structures called budki in eight villages. These step ponds, dug in dry tank beds, help to harvest soil moisture and provide a water storage capacity of over 3,287 cubic meters. This ensures the animals have a reliable water source, especially during the dry season.

Sustainable Solutions

To ensure the region is drought-proofed in the future, RF is working in collaboration with Gram Panchayats to develop comprehensive development plans. This includes activities such as desilting tanks and nullahs, constructing water harvesting structures, repairing damaged dams, and building open wells. As of now, de-siltation work has been completed in 30 small-sized stop dams and 5 earthen water harvesting structures, creating a storage capacity of 31,770 cubic meters. These efforts aim to address the root causes of the water scarcity and provide sustainable solutions for future droughts.

Through these multifaceted initiatives, Reliance Foundation is not only providing immediate relief but also working towards a long-term solution to the water crisis in Marathwada. By engaging local communities and leveraging technology, RF is fostering a spirit of self-reliance among the affected people, helping to ensure that the Marathwada drought will be a historical event rather than a recurring nightmare.

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Onkar Pawar

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