The Parched South: Despair as farmer suicides rise, hope springs as women find solutions

States in South India are battling severe drought. All 32 districts in Tamil Nadu have been declared drought-hit; state sought Rs.39,565 crore relief package from Centre but got only Rs.2,014 crore so far. Poor rainfall has dried up fodder supply, hitting Karnataka dairy farmers. In Kerala, people have taken matters in their own hands. Women of Pookkotukavu in Palakkad district dug more than 150 wells in six months to fight the menacing drought conditions. When monsoon played spoilsport, they did not wait for anyone and start digging.