Cattle are the last means to earn a living for the drought-affected farmers of Maharashtra. Due to failed crops, there isn't much fodder left for the animals. Even though people own acres of fertile land, it is as good as barren land without water for irrigation.
To lose cattle to the drought would be a grave setback from which the farmers might never be able to recover. So when cattle camps were set across few districts, many people arrived to find refuge for their cattle. However, this is a temporary solution that has displaced thousands from their villages to live in miserable conditions with the silver lining being their cattle gets to live.
More than 800 cattle camps have been set up providing free water, fodder and shelter for about 6.5 lakh animals across the state. In this camp near Ashti, Beed, around 800 people from nearby villages are taking care of close to 3000 animals.
Each animal is given 15 kilos of fodder per day that consists of cut down pieces of sugarcane, grass and corn. However, the cattle owners say that 15 kilos is not sufficient for the healthier animals.
At least two people from each family are required to take care of their cattle in the camps forcing many villagers to set up temporary camp in makeshift tents living along with the animals.
This is one such makeshift home of Dattatreya Bhunvar and his sister-in-law who have been here for the past 4 months to take care of their thirteen animals. Food for them is brought by family members every day.
Even though these people are landowners, the drought has made them to live like nomads. This is a makeshift bathroom for the women. To attend calls of nature, there isn't any provision other than the vast open lands around.
Nilesh Pawar, a young student who has just given his 10th exams is spending his summer holidays helping his family take care of the cattle. He hopes to join college once the rains start.
If not for the cattle camps, the cattle owners would've been forced to sell the animals but now they are earning money by selling milk. It is reported that the milk output hasn't gone down due to these relief measures.
Milk vans come and collect milk from the cattle camps to sell it in the markets.
Since sugarcane has been used as fodder, the demand for the already water guzzling crop has shot up. Farmers have more reason to plant sugarcane crop that can cause further long-term damage to the water deprived regions.
Images: © Neelima Vallangi/Greenpeace
Support the farmers' movement to get back water that's been give away to industries in the drought-hit region of Maharashtra.
You can also contribute to the Chief Ministers's Drought Relief Fund. Find out how.
Neelima is a travel blogger and photographer. She travelled across the drought-hit regions of Maharastra to find out the reality of the situation in the area.
Disclaimer: All views/opinions expressed in this articles are of the author/writer and NOT of this website.