Key facts
- Dalit communities in India's Bundelkhand region face discrimination in accessing water during increasingly hot summers.
- Water scarcity is exacerbated by drought-prone conditions, rocky terrain, erratic rainfall, and rising temperatures.
- Government water schemes have failed in some areas, increasing reliance on handpumps.
- Allegations of 'cleansing' water sources and assault due to caste discrimination have been reported.
- Experts state that climate change is amplifying existing social inequalities related to water access.
In the drought-prone Bundelkhand region of northern India, where summer temperatures frequently exceed 40C, access to water is becoming increasingly difficult, particularly for Dalit communities. Many villages rely on handpumps as government-installed taps have been dry for years. Mamta, a 40-year-old Dalit woman from the Valmiki community, described making up to 10 journeys a day to collect water for her large family and livestock, a process that takes hours.
She stated that Dalit residents must wait for members of dominant castes to finish using the handpumps before they can fill their buckets. Some upper-caste residents reportedly pour water over the pumps to 'cleanse' them after Dalit use, a practice that has allegedly continued for decades. This discrimination is occurring in a region already suffering from water scarcity due to its semi-arid climate, rocky terrain that stores little groundwater, erratic rainfall, and rising temperatures.
Researchers and residents note that the intensifying heat and water stress are exacerbating existing caste divisions. Mitashi Singh of the Centre for Science and Environment explained that hotter summers are making water scarcer and intensifying pre-existing tensions. However, local officials and some dominant-caste residents interviewed by the BBC denied claims of water shortages or caste discrimination at public water sources. Ram Gopal Singh, a dominant-caste resident, pointed to abandoned wells and acknowledged growing pressure on water supplies but insisted there were no caste-based disputes at the handpumps.
Dalit residents, however, described a different reality. They stated that families try to collect water at different times to avoid confrontations, with Mamta usually going very early or late. Shiv, from another village, shared similar experiences, noting that his family sometimes waits hours for water, even when thirsty, to avoid conflict. His mother, Parmi Devi, alleged she was assaulted by a dominant-caste member over a water dispute, filing a police complaint that has yet to lead to arrests.
The Dalit Dignity and Justice Centre (DDJC) in Uttar Pradesh documented numerous complaints, with a majority involving water during the hottest months. Kuldeep Singh Baudh of DDJC highlighted that water-related issues are common in caste atrocity complaints. The office of District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar Pandey rejected these allegations, stating there was no caste-based discrimination in water access and disputing claims of water shortages, citing government initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission and local water conservation efforts.
Despite efforts to revive traditional water bodies and promote conservation, researchers like Mukul Sharma emphasize that increasing water supply alone is insufficient if caste continues to dictate access. Sharma described climate change as a 'threat multiplier' that amplifies existing injustices.