Women Leaders Story of Rameshwari Devi Strategies that took women’s needs into account and worked directly with the women made big impacts. The women were empowered to take charge of their lives and reduce the vulnerability of the communities living in these harsh environments. Photo: Prashant Panjiar

The Thar desert covers 60% of the state of Rajasthan, India. Food, fodder and water are perennially in short supply. Women trek miles to fetch water which may not even be fresh water, but brackish instead. Cattle perish due to lack of fodder and migration is a common coping strategy to supplement household incomes. Photo: Amit Chakravarty, ICRISAT

Rameshwari Devi gets up at 4 am to fetch brackish water from a source 3-4 kms 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 every year fetching water. (unwater.org) Photo: Prashant Panjiar

“If it rains then there is fodder for the animals. Else they will die. One maund (40 kg) of fodder costs 400 (USD 6.6) which is very expensive,” says Rameshwari Devi. Photo: Amit Chakravarty, ICRISAT

She grows bajra (pearl millet), moth beans, til (sesame), and moong (pulses) but cannot produce enough to sell in the market. She has a small kitchen garden where she grows palak (spinach), muli (radish) and dhaniya (coriander). Photo: Prashant Panjiar

To improve nutrition and supplement livelihoods, fruit trees have been provided to Rameshwari Devi and other women. “These trees will not only provide nutrition but if there is a good harvest we can also sell in the market,” she says. Photo: Prashant Panjiar

A taanka (traditional water harvesting system) has a catchment area to collect rain water and store it underground. But they had fallen into disuse. Based on scientific inputs the taankas were revived and modernized. This can mitigate the water crisis faced by the community. Scientific solutions, by addressing basic concerns, are providing hope to marginal communities. Photo: Prashant Panjiar

As president of the self-help group, set up under the project, Rameshwari Devi plans to start livelihood activities for women. The group has petitioned the local government authorities to lay a water pipeline to their village. She is working to improve the anganwadi (child day-care centre run by the government) in her village. Photo: Prashant Panjiar

Rameshwari Devi has been instrumental in encouraging other women in her village to be part of the project. Photo: Prashant Panjiar

Women and scientists working together have helped reduce risks and provide hope for the community. Story: Amit Chakravarty

Project Team Project Title: CRP 1.1 on Dryland Systems: Integrated Agriculture Production System for the Poor and Vulnerable Funded by: