Baaghi finds a way
Amarpura, in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, barely receives any rain but when it does, the heavy downpours carry away the topsoil and manure, destroying the crop. Rainwater that can be harvested for farming and domestic use goes to waste. For many, like Baaghi, this has meant losing their livelihoods.
The scanty rainfall in the region of Amarpura village in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan results in chronic water shortages for longer durations dragging women like Baaghi (pictured first from left) and many other women to walk for long distances to collect water needed for cooking, drinking and domestic use.
While the drudgery does wear Baaghi down, she bears it all for her family’s survival. Apart from the domestic chores and water fetching responsibilities, she delicately navigates her role as a caregiver for her deaf-mute husband and child, interpreting and communicating for them daily.
Also read: Rainwater Harvesting: How a parched village catches rain to prosper
Baaghi became a member of the Madina Self-Help Group facilitated by GRAVIS and took the initiative to participate in monthly meetings and save money along with the group members. The SHG’s proposal to build an underground water tank for collecting clean rainwater and a bio-sand water filter to help purify water for Baaghi’s family was accepted by the Village Development Committee. While excess rains ruined her crop, timely construction of the tank at least ensured that the rainwater was stored for domestic and drinking use.
This critical intervention transformed her family’s access to clean water, eliminating the need for exhausting trips to the neighbouring village. With safe, clean water now available at her doorstep, Baaghi experienced a remarkable shift in her family’s health and well-being. The BSWF ( Bio Sand Water Filter ) provided them with safe drinking water, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases that had previously impacted their lives.
Freed from the daily drudgery of collecting water, Baaghi now actively participates in SHG and village development activities. By encouraging other families to seek support from GRAVIS, she is instilling a belief in them around the possibility of gaining access to something as basic as clean water.
With a newly restored hope for a brighter future, Baaghi now gets a chance to rest for some time without worrying about water. Seeing and drinking clean water is a dream come true.
Also read: Thar villagers revive ponds to tackle water scarcity
With this newfound time, Baaghi wants to focus on the education of her deaf and mute child with the help of Anganwadi workers and government school teachers.
The lead image on top depicts Baaghi (pictured left) from Amarpura village in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan harvesting crops on somebody else’s field to make ends meet. She reveals that this year the rain was good, but it ruined the only crop she had planted.
Reporting and photography by Balkesh Kumari, who works as a Project Co-ordinator at the Jaisalmer Field Centre of GRAVIS monitoring field activities and training community members for various village development programmes.