Source: DTE
Context: Bundelkhand’s water crisis continues to deepen, placing a disproportionate burden on women and girls who travel long distances daily for water.
About Bundelkhand:
- Bundelkhand is a historic plateau region located in central India, now spread across northern Madhya Pradesh and southern Uttar Pradesh.
- It includes districts like Jhansi, Banda, Hamirpur (Uttar Pradesh), and Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Panna (Madhya Pradesh).
- Geographical Features:
- Lies in the Vindhyan hills and ravine-cut plains with steep, isolated rocky outcrops ideal for fortifications.
- Major rivers: Betwa, Ken, Dhasan, and Tons — most flow through deep gorges, limiting irrigation potential.
- Diamond deposits are found near Panna, and major crops include wheat, cotton, and jowar.
- Historical Background:
- Known as Jejakabhukti in ancient times; ruled by dynasties like Gaharwars, Pratiharas, and Chandelas.
- Famous for Khajuraho temples, the region fell to Prithviraj Chauhan in 1182 CE.
- The Bundela Rajputs, from whom the region takes its name, resisted Mughal and Delhi Sultanate rule through guerrilla tactics.
