“I am Barren”

Climate change and water scarcity are major issues faced by farmers in India. This affects the local farmers who are caught in a web of economic hardship, psychological toll, and agricultural vulnerability. This article aims to show how water scarcity affects farmers’ livelihoods in the marginalized community of India. It takes a toll not only on the socioeconomic inequality but also on the overall mental health. By employing a critical qualitative close reading of the narrative, the objective of the article is to show the harsh reality faced by the rural indigenous societies, and how water as a resource is critical in mending and shaping the culture and society we live in. This study reveals that Kadvi Hawa (2017) exemplifies hydro-dependency and the hydrosocial cycle, intertwining water scarcity with farmers’ agricultural vulnerability, intergenerational trauma, and elevated suicide risks amid climate-induced droughts. The findings of this study highlight the significance of Entertainment-Education (EE) as a pedagogical tool; recommend government schemes such as PM-KISAN and Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS) that aid the farmers; and agroecology as a sustainable form of farming.