How do women collect water in Rajasthan? Why is water scarcity in most areas caused?

Question

Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow: 

Given the abundance and renewability of water, it is difficult to imagine that we may suffer from water scarcity. The moment we speak of water shortages; we immediately associate it with regions having low rainfall or those that are drought prone. We instantaneously visualise the deserts of Rajasthan and women balancing many ‘matkas’ (earthen pots) used for collecting and storing water and travelling long distances to get water. True, the availability of water resources varies over space and time, mainly due to the variations in seasonal and annual precipitation, but water scarcity in most cases is caused by over-exploitation, excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups. 

1. How do women collect water in Rajasthan? 

2. Why is water scarcity in most areas caused? 

3. Do you think rainwater harvesting can help? Give reasons to justify your answer.

Answer 1

1. Women collected and stored water by balancing many ‘matkas’ (earthen pots) and travelling long distances to get water.

2. Water scarcity is caused due to the variations in seasonal and annual precipitation, but water scarcity in most cases is caused by over- exploitation, excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups.

3. Give reasons to justify your answer. Ans.Yes, rain water harvesting can help as agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil like the ‘khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in other parts of Rajasthan. ‘Rooftop rainwater harvesting’ was commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan.