Children carry water pots instead of school bags in Madhya Pradesh village

Children in Mali village of Madhya Pradesh’s Umaria district are being forced to carry pots of water instead of school bags as a severe water crisis grips the tribal-dominated region. Residents, especially women and children, walk nearly 2 to 3 kilometers across hilly terrain every day to fetch water for basic household needs.

With temperatures soaring during the peak summer season, the shortage has made daily life extremely difficult for villagers, who say access to drinking water has become a constant struggle. Many spend hours each day searching for water sources outside the village.