Tribal Women In Nashik’s Darewadi Brave Dangerous Terrain For Drinking Water

Tribal women in the remote Darewadi area of Igatpuri taluka have to endure a lot of hardship to fetch drinking water for their homes. Surrounded by mountains and valleys, the women of this area have to walk 3 km with their young children to fetch water. They face many difficulties while going to fetch water from the Bham Dam.

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The wells that supply water in the village have dried up. Also, the water level in other wells in the wadi has reached the bottom, creating a serious water problem. Due to this, women have to trek for water early in the morning and in the evening after returning from work. Taking their young children down the steep mountain to the Bham Dam and climbing the same mountain again is a big challenge for them.

In this situation, women not only have to endure physical hardship, but their lives are also at risk. To fetch water, they have to go through dense forests, where there is always a fear of wild animals.

Due to this severe water shortage, women and children in Darewadi are suffering. The villagers are demanding that the administration take immediate notice of this and arrange for a water supply in this area. Immediate measures are needed to provide relief to these women in remote areas.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Manjula Bhagat said, “I’m studying in the fourth standard in a nearby school. We have to climb down the mountain towards the dam to fetch water. It’s about 4 km from my home. After school, I accompany my mother to fetch water from the dam. Sometimes I have to compromise with school to get water. I don’t like this—I love to study.”

“God knows when these hardships will be over. We have to take our children with us to fetch water, and on the other hand, there is a threat of leopards and snakes here. No political or administrative representative has ever visited us to know our miserable lives. We are fed up now but can’t do anything,” added Hausabai Gavanda.