Water is a basic necessity. Despite covering nearly one-third of the planet, it’s becoming harder to come by, especially in rural parts of India. And this shortage is not just a minor issue; it has serious repercussions on farming, people’s livelihoods, and their overall quality of life. So, if we want to tackle this issue effectively, we really need to dig into what’s causing this water scarcity, and then look for the ways to deal with it.

Water scarcity in rural areas of India is not just a matter of lack of water. Yes, this means both the problem and solution are not simple, and many challenges play key roles – climate change, non-sustainable farming, increase in population, lack of proper infrastructure, the list goes on.

When it comes to identifying and addressing infrastructural issues in rural India, Project Chirag is leading the way to sustainable rural development in India.

Understanding the issue – What are the causes of water scarcity in India?

 

When you look closely, rural India has some unique hurdles to jump over regarding water scarcity. It all boils down to their heavy reliance on agriculture and the not-so-great access to water infrastructure. Let’s take a closer look at some of the specific reasons causing water scarcity in rural areas in India –

Dependence on agriculture: It is a fact that agriculture is the chief source of livelihood in rural India, with approximately 60% of the rural population being occupied in this sector. There is no appropriate irrigation system which complicates matters when rainfall is inadequate and crops fail during dry seasons putting more pressure on water supply. 

Overpopulation: Since more people rely on the available water source, competition for it increases hence exerting a lot of pressure on the available water. This population pressure is felt most in the agricultural sector where water is used for irrigation as well as in the households. 

Lack of water storage and conservation systems: A lot of the rural areas in India struggle with proper water storage and conservation systems. Traditional methods—like ponds, wells, and reservoirs aren’t being taken care of, or have fallen apart over the years. Also, there are no proper water management systems to harness the rainwater. 

Poor infrastructure and accessibility: In rural areas, there is a lot of pressure on women and kids who have to walk long distances just to fetch water. Due to poor infrastructure, with almost nil reliable water supply systems. With the existing water infrastructure that is often outdated and in disrepair, the situation is truly troublesome

Urban load on water consumption – Water systems in rural areas supply water to urban areas, where the per-person consumption of water is extremely high, leaving the rural citizen without access to his or her most accessible and abundant water source.

Challenges of water scarcity in Rural India

The lack of sufficient water access in rural areas is a storm of problems, the effects of which are felt by people in their social, economic, and environmental lives.

Agricultural losses: There is heavy reliance on water in Indian agriculture, especially in rural areas and therefore, any shortages can greatly affect agriculture and the yields. Moreover, small farmers and producers cannot afford technologies that reduce water usage thus the vicious cycle of poverty and water deficit occurs.

Health and sanitation issues: When clean water becomes hard to come by, people succumb to using dirty water that spreads many diseases. Inadequate availability of water for cleaning and washing also affects the deterioration of hygiene standards since health can be worsened simultaneously. 

Stress Migration and social disruptions: An ongoing problem of water scarcity especially in rural areas means that people have to travel to urban areas to find water and possibly employment. Whole communities can get displaced, losing their traditional ways of living, and urban areas end up feeling the strain as resources become stretched thin. 

Gender inequality: One of the main consequences of water scarcity is that women have to spend a lot of time collecting water, carrying it back home, sometimes having to endanger their lives while doing so. This also means them being deprived of other things, mainly education.

Ways to prevent water scarcity

When looking for ways to prevent water scarcity, it needs a multi-faceted approach:

Water conservation: 
Ways to conserve water include encouraging the use of irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation. 

Rain water can be harvested and stored in water tanks and can be used during dry seasons.

Also, wastewater that is treated for agricultural and industrial use can help to save water. 

Groundwater management: 
Setting up some rules to limit how much we extract can do wonders for replenishing those aquifers. It’s all about balance. 

We can boost groundwater levels through afforestation or using contour farming techniques. 

Community participation: 

Getting local communities involved in water management is huge. When people have a say in decisions that affect them, it often leads to fairer and more sustainable outcomes. 

Forming water user associations can help with making decisions together and sharing resources, which fosters a sense of community.

Improved water infrastructure: 

Changing the traditional irrigation systems with the modern ones can help decrease the amount of wasted water. 

Building of dams, reservoirs and check dams effectively assists in water harvesting for use in future. 

Agricultural education: 

When the farming community is educated about techniques such as intercropping, soil health, soil rotation, etc., water is used judiciously and more efficiently. 

They need to get educated about growing non-water intensive crops and growing regionally sensitive crops. For example, why farmers in Punjab should not be growing rice, or those in Tamil Nadu shouldn’t be growing wheat.

How policy and governance is one of the causes of water scarcity in India:

Having effective policies and frameworks is key for managing water sustainably. If we can get that right, we’re setting ourselves up for success. When people understand the importance of conserving water and using it wisely, they’re more likely to take action. Policy makers should have strict regulations that promote water conservation. One very good example is having a rainwater harvesting system mandatorily in every house that is being built.

Project Chirag – Contributing towards solving water scarcity in rural India

So, allow us to tell a little about ourselves. We, Project Chirag, are an NGO solely focused on the development of rural areas in India. Among the major challenges we are addressing is water shortage, which in turn leads to many other issues that we have mentioned above. Through our innovative methods and policies – such as rainwater harvesting, solar powered hand pumps, and community-based approach towards water management and dealing with water scarcity in rural areas of India. 

But it’s not just about availability of water. Our work is also enabling communities to enhance their standards of living by making their livelihoods better. Therefore, through our efforts, we are pulling through in giving solutions to the water problem in rural India. 

Your donation for rural development through Project Chirag can go a long way towards an equitable sharing of resources with rural India.

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