Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra – Kalpana, a 45-year-old farmer from Naigaon taluka in Nanded district, had been looking forward to Diwali this year. After four months of tireless work on her small 1.5-acre farm, she had hoped to celebrate the festival with her family in a modest but joyful way. She dreamt of buying new clothes, including a saree for herself, and celebrating with her daughter and aged mother. However, nature’s fury had other plans. Last month, unprecedented rains and flash floods ravaged the Marathwada region, destroying crops across the district and leaving thousands of farmers like Kalpana in financial distress.

Kalpana had planted soybean this season, hoping it would provide a better return than the chickpeas she had cultivated last year. “Last year, we earned around ₹10,000 after selling four or five bags of chickpeas. This year, we had planted soybean, but it was completely ruined. The entire crop was washed off,” she told PTI on Wednesday. The loss was total, leaving her without income and with mounting responsibilities.

The devastation did not end with the fields. Kalpana, along with her daughter and elderly mother, was forced to leave their damaged home and seek shelter in a godown located in an industrial area of Naigaon. The household, already reeling from the loss of the farm, now had to survive on a meagre income generated from stitching jute bags. “I get paid 30 rupees for stitching 50 bags, but work is not available every day,” she said. Physical limitations also restrict her work hours. An accident some years ago left lasting damage to her back, legs, and neck, yet she continues working to support her mother and daughter.

Kalpana’s situation is emblematic of the hardships faced by small and marginal farmers across Marathwada. Despite the Maharashtra government announcing a ₹31,000 crore aid package for farmers affected by floods, many have not received any assistance. In Kalpana’s case, bureaucratic and procedural barriers have delayed aid. Her farm, she explained, is registered in the name of her son, who passed away due to illness a few years ago. With no formal claim under her own name, she has struggled to access government relief.

The immediate challenges are stark and multifaceted. Kalpana’s damaged home and lack of secure accommodation make her daily existence precarious. Her income from stitching is irregular and insufficient to cover even basic necessities, let alone the costs of her daughter’s education. The young woman is planning to enrol in a Master’s programme at an open university, an aspiration that now hangs in the balance due to financial constraints. Kalpana herself is forced to postpone personal expenditures such as buying a new saree for Diwali, as survival and essential family needs take precedence.

Kalpana hopes to plant her field again during the Rabi season, but the question of funding for seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs looms large. Without financial support, her prospects for cultivating a viable crop remain uncertain. NGOs such as Shivar, which work to prevent farmer suicides and provide support to distressed families, have stepped in to help. Kalpana’s daughter reached out to the NGO helpline, and counsel Vinayak Hegana has taken up her case. “We are working on the case and have spoken to a few people regarding the girl’s university admission. We will get it done, but the family needs more help,” he told PTI.

The human toll of these floods extends far beyond the immediate loss of crops. The economic vulnerability of small farmers, coupled with inadequate access to relief measures, magnifies the impact of natural disasters. Kalpana’s story illustrates the intersection of environmental calamity, social vulnerability, and systemic gaps in post-disaster support. Many families in Marathwada are similarly displaced, forced to leave their homes and livelihoods behind, and struggle to survive in temporary shelters or work in low-paying daily wage jobs.

The Maharashtra floods highlight structural issues that make rural populations particularly vulnerable. Smallholder farmers often have limited land, minimal savings, and dependence on rain-fed agriculture. When floods or droughts strike, the absence of crop insurance, delayed government relief, and the lack of alternate livelihood options exacerbate distress. Women farmers, widows, and households headed by single parents face even greater challenges, as social norms and systemic inequities limit access to resources and assistance.

Kalpana’s predicament also underscores the psychological and social strain that accompanies such disasters. The loss of livelihood, displacement from home, and uncertainty about the future create immense stress. Women like her, who bear the responsibility of caring for children and elderly family members, experience compounded pressure. While NGOs provide counselling and legal guidance, the scale of the problem means that assistance is limited and often delayed.

Experts note that the impact of natural disasters on women farmers is often underestimated. Women frequently take on unpaid labour in addition to paid work and face barriers in accessing formal credit, subsidies, and insurance. In Kalpana’s case, the fact that her farm is registered in her deceased son’s name illustrates the legal and procedural hurdles women encounter in securing government aid. Advocacy groups emphasise the need for gender-sensitive relief measures and quicker disbursement of support to ensure women can maintain both their families’ welfare and their own dignity.

Despite the overwhelming challenges, Kalpana demonstrates resilience and determination. She continues to stitch jute bags despite her injuries, manages the household with her elderly mother, and supports her daughter’s education aspirations. Her hopes for the Rabi season show a commitment to rebuilding her life and securing a sustainable livelihood. However, the financial and social support required to turn this hope into reality remains uncertain.

The broader picture is one of a region grappling with the combined effects of climate change, economic vulnerability, and bureaucratic delays. The Marathwada floods have affected thousands of families, destroyed livelihoods, and disrupted social structures. While government aid packages exist on paper, the challenge lies in effective implementation and ensuring that relief reaches those most in need, particularly marginalized groups such as women farmers.

Kalpana’s story is a microcosm of these challenges. It reflects the loss of crops and income, the forced displacement from homes, the struggle to secure education and basic needs, and the absence of timely government relief. NGOs and local community organisations play a crucial role, but systemic interventions are necessary to provide long-term stability and security.

As Diwali approaches, for Kalpana, the festival of lights is overshadowed by uncertainty and hardship. The saree she had hoped to wear remains a distant aspiration. Her daily life is dominated by the immediate struggle for survival, the search for work, and the effort to ensure her daughter’s education. Yet, amid these challenges, she remains determined to reclaim her farm, rebuild her home, and restore some semblance of normalcy for her family.

The situation in Nanded and across Marathwada underscores the urgent need for policies that address both immediate disaster relief and long-term resilience for smallholder farmers. Crop insurance, direct financial assistance, gender-sensitive support programs, and accessible education schemes can help families like Kalpana’s weather future crises. Without these measures, the cycle of vulnerability will continue, leaving women and marginalised farmers exposed to the full brunt of natural and economic disasters.

Kalpana’s story is a reminder that behind every statistic on crop loss or flood damage lies a human life, a family, and dreams deferred. It is a testament to resilience in the face of adversity, and a call to action for more effective, inclusive, and responsive support mechanisms for farmers struggling to survive and thrive in Maharashtra’s rural heartlands.