Scorching summer temperatures and prolonged drought in India's Bundelkhand region are intensifying pre-existing caste-based discrimination, making access to vital water resources a daily struggle for many. Residents in the drought-prone area, where temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), often face hours of water collection, a task further complicated by social hierarchies.
Mamta, a 40-year-old resident of Jalaun district, described making up to 10 trips a day to a handpump to collect water for her 11-member family and livestock. The taps from a government drinking water scheme have been dry for two years, leaving the village of 1,000 people reliant on a few handpumps. Mamta, who belongs to the Dalit community, formerly known as 'untouchables,' stated that she must wait for members of dominant castes to finish using the handpump before she can collect water. She also reported that after she and others from lower castes have used the pump, some upper-caste residents pour water over it to 'cleanse' it, a practice she said has occurred for decades. Mamta's home in Kalpi village exemplifies the challenging conditions in Bundelkhand, a region spanning parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Bundelkhand is known for its semi-arid climate and has experienced severe droughts between 2002 and 2016, becoming a symbol of water scarcity in India. The region's rocky terrain limits groundwater storage, and erratic rainfall coupled with rising temperatures makes water access increasingly unpredictable, despite various conservation initiatives.
Studies of weather records over the past century indicate a rise in temperatures across the region. In recent summers, parts of Bundelkhand have approached 48 degrees Celsius (118.4 degrees Fahrenheit). The combination of extreme heat and dwindling water supplies is, according to activists, deepening the chasm of old caste inequalities.
Parmi Devi, another resident, is pictured at the gate of her house in Shahjahanpur village.
The handpump Mamta relies on highlights the daily challenge of water collection.
Water buckets are a constant reminder of the effort required to secure this basic necessity.
