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When voters boycotted polls because of water scarcity in Gujarat

Water scarcity concept. Illustration with dam
A dam located along the Narmada River in Gujarat. Dams are fixtures of India’s water scarcity crisis, as many see their reserves dwindle.

In Gujarat last month, voters turned to the polls to protest water scarcity in the state – by sitting them out entirely.

The 17th Lok Sabha polls in Ahmedabad was the scene of fanfare on April 23rd, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi cast his vote in this year’s elections. However, elsewhere in the state, many voters dissatisfied with the state’s water crisis and how it has been handling refused to participate in the vote. Even as the state witnessed a record turnout of 64 percent, entire populations of some villages refused to partake in the formation of the next lower house of India’s Parliament – showing once again how environmental issues are incensing citizens, driving them to apathy and non-participation.

Scenes from monsoon rains in forests near Rajpila, Gujarat. Monsoon rains in recent years have been substandard, leading to a rainfall deficit driving the state’s water scarcity woes. Image credit: Abhijeetsawant [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)]

“Water scarcity is one of the main environmental concerns facing Indians today…the Gujarati communities boycotting the polls is a prime example of this. Many of them are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Without the water necessary to be able to make a living, and with reports of inadequate compensation from insurance companies, it is unsurprising that so many of those affected are reacting with anger and apathy.”

Earlier this year, Health Issues India reported how villagers in Nagaraja Kandigai, Tamil Nadu refused to participate in by-elections for the state’s Legislative Assembly. With this latest example of voters sitting out the elections for environmental issues, it is clear, if politicians are seen to neglect the environmental issues plaguing India’s communities, they are becoming increasingly unlikely to be rewarded with their votes.

Water is one of the main environmental concerns facing Indians today. In many areas of the country, this is having an increasingly deleterious impact on everyday life for many Indians.

The Gujarati communities boycotting the polls is a prime example of this. Many of them are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Without the water necessary to be able to make a living, and with reports of inadequate compensation from insurance companies, it is unsurprising that so many of those affected are reacting with anger and apathy.

Two Indian women collect water for use in clay pots.

“In the village of Bhangor, located in the Jamnagar constituency, not a single voter out of 3,344 cast a ballot…in another village, Nanda, just one voter cast a ballot”

In the village of Bhangor, located in the Jamnagar constituency, not a single voter out of 3,344 cast a ballot in three polling booths.  Crop failure, water scarcity, and inadequate insurance payouts were cited as reasons. This was despite efforts by election officials and even the Police Superintendent, encouraging them to exercise their franchise.

Similarly, a boycott was witnessed in Dhavadad, located in the state’s Dang district over lack of a construction of a road. In another village, Nanda, just one voter cast a ballot. The Wire reported election boycotts in the Amreli and Jamnagar districts.  

Issues related to water shortages have long been plaguing the state, which witnessed a rain deficit of ten percent in 2017. This only worsened in 2018, as the state recorded a mere 75 percent of its average rainfall over the past thirty years during that year’s monsoon season.

Agricultural fields in Analgadh, Rajkot. Those dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods are particularly feeling the effects of water scarcity, both in Gujarat and nationwide. Image credit: harmishhk [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]

“In six states – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Telangana – drought has been declared in multiple districts. Other drought-affected states include Bihar, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. 42 percent of India’s land is facing drought. Concerningly, this land is home to 500 million people.”

Water shortages is a pan-India problem which will only worsen in the years to come. A WaterAid report released earlier this year found that more people live with water scarcity in India for at least one part of the year than in any other country. This tacitly leads to farmer suicides, which has become a rather big poll issue this year. 75 percent of households in India do not have access to drinking water and seventy percent of drinking water in India is contaminated.

India is the world’s largest user of groundwater, which led to groundwater reserves depleting by 22 percent between 2000 and 2010. Studies have warned of shrinking reservoirs across India. In Maharashtra alone, there is no water in at least twenty of the state’s major dams.

In six states – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Telangana – drought has been declared in multiple districts. Other drought-affected states include Bihar, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. 42 percent of India’s land is facing drought. Concerningly, this land is home to 500 million people.

The combined woes of water scarcity and water contamination are  going to have a destructive impact on life for several millions of Indians. Without improvements, by 2050 India will face even more severe water shortages impacting even greater swathes of its population. Such crises are human in nature, and not about mere politics, yet it is also incumbent on policymakers to act. Voters turning off from politics shows how deeply many feel their lawmakers have failed them on the environmental issues that matter. If politicians want to win back trust, they cannot afford to ignore India’s water crisis.

Contact details for mental health support in India can be accessed here. 

If you are suicidal or experiencing suicidal thoughts, visit your nearest hospital or contact AASRA on 91-22-27546669 or Sneha India on 91 44 24640050 helpline. A list of other suicide helplines can be accessed here.

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