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Women lead the way out of poverty in an Indian desert

In an arid and inhospitable Thar desert, women have taken the struggle against poverty into their own hands.

Rameshwari Devi driving force behind the self-help group set up under the auspices of ICRISAT, an organisation that seeks to empower the women left behind to take charge of their lives and reduce the vulnerability of communities living in these harsh environments. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
Rameshwari Devi driving force behind the self-help group set up under the auspices of ICRISAT, an organisation that seeks to empower the women left behind to take charge of their lives and reduce the vulnerability of communities living in these harsh environments. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
19 Nov 2015

Rajasthan, India – Rameshwari Devi wakes up at 4am each morning and walks the 3km to her nearest water source. Her village Derasar, lies in the Thar desert in northwest Rajasthan, a vast wilderness spread over

320,000sq km and covering 60 percent of the state.

Droughts are frequent and water is scarce for up to 11 months of the year. Soil quality is poor which makes producing enough to eat a monumental task. Communal grazing pastures are a lifeline providing cattle feed, fuel, wood and medicinal plants. To help support their families, the menfolk have been migrating to the cities, leaving the women to fend as best they can.

The women of Derasar are not easily cowed, however. They are both tough and resourceful. Led by Rameshwari, they have set up a self-help group under the auspices of ICRISAT, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.

The organisation works directly with the women who are left behind in these communities, taking into account their needs and helping them to adopt integrated farming methods, while capitalising on their local knowledge.

It has provided fruit trees, offered advice on which crops to sow, helped improve water storage arrangements and helped the women petition the local authorities to lay a water pipeline to their village. 

Ramesharwi is also working to improve the government-run village childcare centre.

Through such ICRISAT initiatives women are empowered to take charge of their lives and reduce the vulnerability of communities living in such harsh conditions.

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Rameshwari Devi rises at 4am each day to fetch water from up to 4km away. 'We use brackish water for cooking and other needs,' she says. There is no fresh water source nearby. Across India it is estimated women spend 150 million work days each year fetching water. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
Rameshwari Devi rises at 4am each day to fetch water from up to 4km away. 'We use brackish water for cooking and other needs,' she says. There is no fresh water source nearby. Across India it is estimated women spend 150 million work days each year fetching water. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
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The Thar desert covers 60 percent of Rajasthan. Food, cattle feed and water are always in short supply. Livestock often die due to lack of food and men often migrate to urban areas to supplement household incomes . [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
The Thar desert covers 60 percent of Rajasthan. Food, cattle feed and water are always in short supply. Livestock often die due to lack of food and men often migrate to urban areas to supplement household incomes . [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
'If it rains then there is fodder for the animals. Else they die,' says Rameshawi Devi. 'One maund (40 kg) of fodder costs 400 Indian rupees ($6.6) which is very expensive.' [Amit Chakravarty/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
'If it rains then there is fodder for the animals. Else they die,' says Rameshawi Devi. 'One maund (40 kg) of fodder costs 400 Indian rupees ($6.6) which is very expensive.' [Amit Chakravarty/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
To improve nutrition and supplement livelihoods, Fruit trees have been supplied to the village by ICRISAT. 'These trees will not only provide nutrition but if there is a good harvest we can also sell in the market, Rameshwari Devi. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
To improve nutrition and supplement livelihoods, Fruit trees have been supplied to the village by ICRISAT. 'These trees will not only provide nutrition but if there is a good harvest we can also sell in the market, Rameshwari Devi. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
Taankas, a traditional method of capturing water, have a catchment area to collect rainwater which is then stored underground. Recently the village taankas have been upgraded and modernised. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
Taankas, a traditional method of capturing water, have a catchment area to collect rainwater which is then stored underground. Recently the village taankas have been upgraded and modernised. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
As president of the self-help group, Rameshwari Devi has petitioned the local authorities to lay a water pipeline to their village. She is also working to improve the anganwadi,or child day-care centre, in the village. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
As president of the self-help group, Rameshwari Devi has petitioned the local authorities to lay a water pipeline to their village. She is also working to improve the anganwadi,or child day-care centre, in the village. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
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ICRISAT works directly with the women left behind in rural communities, taking into account their needs and capitalising on their local knowledge. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
ICRISAT works directly with the women left behind in rural communities, taking into account their needs and capitalising on their local knowledge. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
Women have been working with scientists from ICRISAT to help reduce adversities and provide hope for the community. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
Women have been working with scientists from ICRISAT to help reduce adversities and provide hope for the community. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
For the women of Derasar, the lack of water is an issue that blights their lives. The region faces water scarcity up to 11 months of the year. 'Water is a major problem for all of us,' says Manibai. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
For the women of Derasar, the lack of water is an issue that blights their lives. The region faces water scarcity up to 11 months of the year. 'Water is a major problem for all of us,' says Manibai. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
Manibai grows pearl millet, cluster bean, green gram, moth bean, sesame and watermelons on her 6.5 hectares of land. 'Pearl millet is only for self-consumption while the pulses are sold if there is any surplus left over,' she says. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
Manibai grows pearl millet, cluster bean, green gram, moth bean, sesame and watermelons on her 6.5 hectares of land. 'Pearl millet is only for self-consumption while the pulses are sold if there is any surplus left over,' she says. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
ICRISAT offers science-backed research to improve water storage technology and advice on crops to help the villagers increase their income. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]
ICRISAT offers science-backed research to improve water storage technology and advice on crops to help the villagers increase their income. [Prashant Panjiar/ICRISAT/Al Jazeera]

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