In the drought affected regions of Maharashtra, the education of young girls is suffering as drying wells force families to prioritise survival over schooling. Every morning, 17 year old Ramati Mangla walks several kilometres barefoot to collect water from a distant spring. By the time she returns home, school hours are already over, leaving her with little hope of returning to her studies. She keeps her books safely but fears she may never sit in a classroom again.
Villages across Nashik and Nandurbar are facing severe water shortages as rainfall becomes increasingly unpredictable. With men migrating to nearby towns for work, girls are left to shoulder the demanding task of fetching water. This routine can take several hours each day, leaving almost no time for school. Local officials estimate that nearly two million people in these areas struggle with daily water scarcity.
Teachers report a sharp decline in girls’ attendance, especially during the dry season. Many families, overwhelmed by hardship, keep their daughters home or consider early marriage. A report from UNICEF warns that children in drought prone areas face major barriers to education because collecting water now requires more time and exposes them to pollution and long travel routes.
Mangla’s experience reflects a wider pattern highlighted in the 2021 Unesco report, which predicted that climate driven disruptions could push millions of girls worldwide out of school. Her story is part of a photography series by Shefali Rafiq, awarded under the 2025 Marai Photo Grant, capturing how climate change is forcing girls across India to choose between education and survival.
