How Women Across Karnataka are Fighting Drought by Restoring Water Bodies Themselves

Women across Karnataka have made up their minds to fight the drought by reviving water bodies across the state.

In the Mandya district, women have taken it upon themselves to clean and desilt dry lakes and ponds, while the women of Gulbarga have revived 28 water bodies.

According to a report by The Hindustan Times, 75 women working to revive the lake in Bevanahalli are worried about meeting the deadline set by the arrival of the Southwest monsoon. The group received the go-ahead from authorities to clean the dry lake only a couple weeks ago. Determined to complete the work as soon as possible, the women are working hard for the desilting of the lake.

Ever since the Bellandur lake in Bengaluru caught fire because of the industrial effluents released into it, the government has come under scrutiny for its inept administration of lakes in the state. Not waiting for the government to take action for the revival of these lakes and other water bodies, over 3,000 women in Mandya district have taken it upon themselves to restore lakes, ponds and irrigation tanks in 31 villages.

These women have come together and convinced the administration to assign them the work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

The organisation Janawadi Mahila Sanghatane came up with the idea and decided to focus on water bodies neglected by the state government. Despite facing opposition from the villagers as well as from the administration, the women have pursued the cause relentlessly.

The movement is spreading to other districts, as groups have come forward to begin work in Kolar as well.