Today marks World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought which seeks to promote public awareness around the issue and efforts to combat it. According to the United Nations, by 2025, 1.8 billion people will experience absolute water scarcity and two thirds of the world will be living under water-stressed conditions. Many parts of India are facing severe drought and water scarcity. CGTN's Ravinder Bawa tells us how Indians are dealing with the extreme situation.

Godavari struggles everyday to collect water for her family from this almost drying well. Her village in central Indian district of Beed is facing the worst water scarcity. Since all the wells and ponds in her village have dried, she has to trek more than two kilometres to fetch water. She says the load on her head weighs more than her. Just ten days back, she came down with fever and body ache due to fatigue.

GODAVARI STUDENT "The road is not good as it is being built. I don't get time to study. I don't get time to play. I have to bring water three times a day. I feel scared of falling into the well."

The only source of water is a nearby dam. In parched villages, people are forced to drink untreated water supplied by tankers. Mostly the women carry and collect water in drought hit areas. Irregular and scarce rainfall has dried most water sources in these regions.

RAVINDER BAWA NEW DELHI "The government is also providing free fodder and water for animals in about 300 such cattle camps. With no water in many villages, thousands of farmers have also moved into these camps temporarily. They are badly hit as this drought has forced them to become refugees."

Farmers are struggling the most in these drought-stricken regions. Dilip Bhushan Rao has seen three crop failures. He says if it does not rain this year, he will also be forced to migrate to another place for livelihood. 

DILIP BHUSHAN RAO FARMER "We have no other means of income, all we have is farming. Farming is the only livelihood for us. So we can't look after the family. It is very difficult."

To address this water emergency, the government is now prioritising water management initiatives.

Astik Kumar Pandey, District Magistrate, Beed, India "Under Jal yukt shivar abhiyan and we make rejuvenate, rebuild our small water storage structures."

People here have realised that water is life. While they wait for rains to arrive, they also know that there are no quick fix solutions to this water crisis. Ravinder Bawa, CGTN, Beed, India.