Thirsty women rioted for improved water access on March 20 in a village in western India. <br /><br />After desperately waiting for water, women marched to the ‘panchayat’ or a local government office in Fardapur in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra state, holding empty vessels. <br /><br />They ransacked the office and flung chairs meant to seat local bureaucrats and elected officials. <br /><br />A few men, who followed the women and filmed the rioting, urged women not to throw the empty vessels. But many thirsty protesters were in no mood to listen. <br /><br />The women returned to their homes only after officials promised that they would supply water within a few hours.<br /><br />This district in particular is prone to droughts and with the onset of summer, water sources are drying up creating a severe crisis in the region. <br /><br />Women are worst hit as it is traditionally their responsibility to fetch water for the family. <br /><br />Women, who are forced to trek for long distances to find water, have begun to protest demanding that the government supply water regularly.
