Rahta Village, Madhepura: Exactly one year ago, the Kosi floods devastated most of north Bihar, leaving millions of farmers homeless and helpless. This year, they were hoping for better times, but now they face a drought.
NDTV's Alok Pandey spent 24 hours with Bimla Devi, a marginal farmer of Madhepura district in north Bihar, trying to get through a second year of crisis.
In the Rahta village, Bimla Devi, a 54-year-old widow, told NDTV it has rained for the first time in 32 days. On her one-acre field, she is trying to plant paddy, which she knows has little chance of surviving.
"What is the use of this rain at this time? My crop should have been a foot high. Now even if I sow, I don't have much hope," said Bimla Devi.
There were also talks of this week last year, when the Kosi Dam broke, flooding about a thousand villages on the Indian side. For days, Bimla Devi's home and field were under water.
"Last year it had rained a lot and this year there is no water at all. You see there is drought all around. We don't know how we will survive in case there is no crop. Last year the paddy was knee high and this year there is nothing," said Bimla Devi.
"It is so unfair. Last year there were floods. This year it is drought. I get angry at god. Then I feel resigned," she added.
After the sun set, Bimla Devi began cooking some dal and rice for herself and her two sons, both in their 20s. They got about 40 days of work under NREGA this year, but no payments.
"They need an account at the post office for payments to be debited. They have visited the postmaster several times, but he keeps delaying it. May be he wants money, but I have no money to give," she said.
Her sons have to take up odd jobs in town to earn some money.
"I am suffering for two years. Yes, I do pray to god that next year will be better," she said.
For Bimla Devi and others in Rahta, it's been a double blow by nature within a year. These people say they can't really fight nature but they most certainly expect government help to be hassle-free, so that they can see through this season of desperation.