hari women have a difficult life. In some areas of Umerkot, Tharparkar, where water scarcity and quality remain a constant concern, women bear the burden of carrying heavy pots on their heads and making multiple trips to fetch drinkable water.

Thar is a region marked by arid landscapes and sand ridges, prone to droughts and fires. There are 765,862 women in its population of 1.65 million (2017). The inhabitants rely on rain-fed agriculture, livestock rearing daily wage labour in nearby cities for their livelihood. As per the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, the per capita availability of water has significantly dropped over the years, reaching a scarcity level of 1,000 cubic metres.

Lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation is affecting millions of people, leading to waterborne diseases and a high child mortality rate. The Thar desert, with its erratic rainfall and dependence on underground water, is particularly vulnerable to water scarcity, which in turn contributes to migration, malnutrition and socioeconomic challenges.

For years, the task of fetching water has fallen mostly to the women, who bear the physical and emotional burdens associated with it as well. Each day, the women of Thar face the daunting prospect of carrying heavy pots atop their heads, enduring long and tiresome journeys to distant water sources, i.e. traditional water wells, installed water schemes and collecting water from communal hand pumps in the barrage area.

The constant struggle for water, coupled with the unpredictability of droughts, creates a persistent sense of uncertainty. The survival instincts kick in, heightening their awareness of the potential dangers and exacerbating their distress.

Limited access to safe water leads to several waterborne diseases and other physical ailments, including joint pain. Still, Thari women are resilient and continue to take these long journeys to bring safe drinking water to their families.

In Thar, 98 percent of the population relies on underground water. During the monsoon season, rainwater is harvested and stored. However, the stored rainwater lasts for only about a month, leaving the communities grappling with water scarcity. Fetching water in Thar is an incredibly challenging and time-consuming task. The dug wells, which are the primary source of underground water, range from depths of 60 to 400 feet. The wells are manually dug and water is extracted by using a bucket tied to a rope, either pulled by hand or with the help of animals – donkeys, bulls or camels. In times of drought or when animals are unavailable, women and children are left to pull the rope by hand. This laborious process not only takes a toll on their physical health but also leads to malnutrition, as many children drop out of school to assist with water collection. Additionally, unhygienic conditions resulting from water scarcity contribute to various diseases, further impacting the economic well-being of the communities.

Recognising the urgent need for safe drinking water, several organisations (governmental and NGO) have installed solar-powered pumps and reverse osmosis plants. However, the issue of water fetching remains unresolved.

Empowering women in Thar through education and skill development can help create opportunities for them to actively participate in water management initiatives.

The neighbouring state of Rajasthan in India has taken significant strides in addressing water scarcity issued in desert regions and providing doorstep water supply to desert communities. One successful initiative is the Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan (Water Self-Reliance Initiative). Under this initiative, various water harvesting structures, such as check dams, farm ponds and rooftop rainwater harvesting systems, are constructed in water-scarce areas. These structures help capture rainwater during the monsoons and recharge groundwater aquifers, ensuring a sustainable water source throughout the year.

Additionally, Rajasthan’s government has implemented the Mukhya Mantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan (Chief Minister’s Water Self-Reliance initiative) to provide doorstep water supply in certain water-scarce areas. This programme focuses on water supply through piped connections directly to households so that women no longer have to spend hours fetching water.

Such initiatives require the construction of water supply infrastructure, including pipelines and water treatment facilities. Communities are provided with water tap connections within their homes or at designated communal water points, eliminating the need for women to travel long distances or carry heavy water pots.

Furthermore, community participation and women’s involvement are prioritised in the implementation of these initiatives. Local self-help groups, known as Jal Sahelis (Water Friends), are formed, which comprise women from the community. These Jal Sahelis actively participate in the planning, implementation and maintenance of water supply systems, ensuring sustainability and ownership at the local level.

Through these comprehensive efforts, Rajasthan has addressed the issue of water fetching. We, too, need to work on sustainable solutions that can reduce women’s physical burden and empower them to utilise their time instead for education, income-generating activities and personal well-being.

By learning from experiences of good practices, authorities need to think about constructing water infrastructure closer to the communities to reduce the distance; this will be achieved through community-sharing model. We also need to consider proper water conservation and management and use best practices at the household level to minimise water wastage and ensure efficient use of available water resources.

Empowering women in Thar through education and skill development can help create opportunities for them to actively participate in water management initiatives. Engaging women in decision-making processes related to water infrastructure and management can lead to more effective and sustainable solutions that meet the specific needs of the community. By implementing these solutions, women in Thar can have improved access to clean water sources at their doorstep, reducing the physical strain, health risks and time constraints associated with water fetching.

Ensuring access to water will not only alleviate the burden on women but also contribute to overall community development, health, and well-being in the Thar desert. Water fetching responsibilities have a direct impact on the education of girls in Thar. The time spent collecting water prevents them from attending school regularly, resulting in a high dropout rate. Lack of education perpetuates the cycle of poverty and limits their opportunities for a better future.

To address these challenges, we require collaborative efforts, including investments in infrastructure, education and sustainable water management practices.

The writer is based in Umerkot. He has over 13 years of experience in the development sector. He can be reached at shewaram@live.com