Chasing water dreams in Rajasthan hamlets

In the unforgiving desert sun, a small group gathers under the scant shade of a lone Neem tree. Their eyes are fixed on a drilling machine boring through the arid land, a beacon of hope in the harsh landscape. This site, a stone's throw from the bustling four-lane NH 25 that links Barmer, Jodhpur, and Beawar, symbolises a century-long struggle for water in the expanse of Thar, in Rajasthan.

- NITIN KUMAR

In the unforgiving desert sun, a small group gathers under the scant shade of a lone Neem tree. Their eyes are fixed on a drilling machine boring through the arid land, a beacon of hope in the harsh landscape. This site, a stone's throw from the bustling four-lane NH 25 that links Barmer, Jodhpur, and Beawar, symbolises a century-long struggle for water in the expanse of Thar, in Rajasthan.

As droplets of water splash onto the parched earth, the crowd of around 30 people erupts in joyous cheers: "Aagyo pani". The villagers of Kandi, near Nokhra Bera, have just won their fight for water access after digging 183 meters deep, but a battle for safe drinking water continues.

"Finally, my fields will have enough water for irrigation, though I still have a long journey ahead to secure access to safe drinking water at home," says Abhijeet, a high school graduate, as he distributes milk cake to the bystanders.

Despite having a tap water connection for over a year through the government's Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Abhinav, who is planning to enrol in ALLEN Jodhpur for NEET preparation, says his village hasn't received water yet. "The administration provided the connection but not the water," he laments, noting, "this is despite our district being under the supervision of the water minister."