India: Farmers’ Struggles, Water Scarcity, & Gender-Based Violence
India is currently grappling with multiple interconnected crises, each with significant socio-economic consequences. These issues—farmers’ protests and the agrarian crisis, the country’s massive water shortage, and the ongoing rape crisis—are symptoms of deeper structural problems. Together, they represent some of the most pressing challenges facing India today, with direct impacts on its rural economy, public health, and social fabric.
Farmers’ Protests & Agrarian Crisis
India’s agricultural sector, employing nearly 50% of the country’s workforce, is in the midst of a long-standing crisis. The repeal of controversial farm laws in 2021, following year-long protests by hundreds of thousands of farmers, highlighted some of the issues, but they persist.
Farmers continue to face:
Rising debt: Many small-scale farmers struggle with growing debts due to the high cost of seeds, fertilizers, and other agricultural inputs.
Water scarcity: Groundwater levels have fallen dramatically, leading to shortages that jeopardize crop yields, especially in regions reliant on water-intensive crops like rice.
Climate change: Unpredictable weather patterns are making agriculture more challenging, further exacerbating farmer distress.
In 2024, another wave of protests broke out, with farmers demanding legal guarantees for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on 23 crops. Additionally, they call for compensation for the over 700 farmers who died during the previous protests. This agrarian crisis poses a severe threat to food security and rural economies, with millions at risk of poverty and displacement (Wikipedia) .
Water Crisis
India’s water crisis has reached alarming levels. 87% of the country’s groundwater is used for irrigation, and over-extraction has caused aquifers to drop to critical levels. Urban areas like Chennai have faced “Day Zero” scenarios, where the city’s water supply has run out, and rural areas are increasingly relying on unsafe sources.
17 major rivers in India are severely polluted, and rapid urbanization has only worsened water contamination issues (Wikipedia).
By 2050, it is estimated that over 40% of India's population will face water shortages, directly impacting both urban and rural livelihoods (Agrarian Scholars).
India’s water scarcity also threatens its agricultural output, which in turn feeds the agrarian crisis. In regions like Punjab and Haryana, where groundwater is heavily relied upon for farming, the depletion of water sources directly impacts farmers’ ability to cultivate crops. Water scarcity could ultimately lead to large-scale migration, as millions of people may be forced to leave their homes in search of viable livelihoods.
Gender-Based Violence
India also faces a rampant rape crisis, with over 32,000 rape cases reported in 2021. However, this figure vastly underrepresents the scope of the issue, as many rapes go unreported due to cultural stigma and inefficient legal systems.
95% of rape victims know their perpetrator, which complicates the pursuit of justice and reflects deep societal issues.
The #MeToo movement has brought attention to gender-based violence, but legal reforms and systemic change remain slow, with many survivors struggling to access justice (Eco-Business).
The issue is deeply rooted in patriarchal norms, and victims often face victim-blaming and shame from their communities. Despite legal reforms, the country still struggles with implementing effective solutions, and public outrage has not translated into substantial policy shifts.
Why These Issues Matter
These crises are interconnected and have far-reaching implications:
Agriculture is the backbone of India’s economy, and the ongoing agrarian crisis threatens the livelihoods of millions of farmers. If left unaddressed, it could lead to widespread poverty and food insecurity.
The water crisis has both direct and indirect impacts on the economy, public health, and the environment. Without sustainable management, it could drive mass migration and conflict over resources.
The rape crisis in India highlights deep-rooted gender inequality and points to the need for more effective legal and social reforms to protect women and survivors of gender-based violence.
