wl-6302-Summer Water Woes in the KBK Region of Odisha: An Intersectional Perspective

The summer water scarcity is a recurring phenomenon in rural parts of western Odisha. The situation worsened as crucial water sources such as ponds, rivers, and wells dried up or receded to their lowest points. As the summer progresses, water becomes scarcer, and villagers compete for it from the few remaining sources, making water sources one of the most contested spaces in villages. The urgency to meet water needs sharpens the caste and community lines as each group strive to meet its water needs from these sources. The dominant caste invokes caste codes at sources, restricting Dalits from accessing public water sources. This group dynamics forces Dalits to manage with a limited quantity of water from inferior quality and sources. The burden of water woes is disproportionately borne by the Dalit women because they are tasked with securing water for the households. This paper examines the intricate dynamics of water scarcity and the reasons why it has gotten worse over time in the undivided KBK (Kalahandi, Bolangir, and Koraput) region of Odisha. It analyses the conditions of the water bodies as well as the reasons for their degeneration. It highlights the differential impacts of water scarcity using an intersectional perspective.