Students from drought-hit areas living in hostels of the University of Pune (UoP) are facing another dilemma. Summer vacation is about to begin but students from these areas will be staying back. Their parents have asked them to stay back rather than return and face water scarcity and financial difficulties.

With farming hit by drought, the financial condition of families back home has deteriorated and the water is so scarce that one more person to share it in the family and another mouth to feed are best avoided, say students from drought-affected regions.

Pramod Pawar from Pathardi in Ahmednagar district, a second-year student of MA in Marathi at the university, says the drought has led to collapse of their financial backbone and their only source of income, farming. With no water and no work to do, Pawar's family, including his aged mother and father, migrated to Pune looking for jobs.

"They are staying with relatives here. My father works as a daily wage labourer. My mother is looking for a job as a domestic help. I can't see them in this state," said Pawar.

"I wanted to go for higher studies, but everything has been put on hold. I am preparing for government jobs but I am also looking for part-time jobs. Even my two brothers doing their undergraduate degrees in the village are in Pune looking for part-time jobs. Apart from that, almost all students from drought-hit areas studying in Pune are planning to stay back as there is no other option."

Gautam Ranu from Karjat, a first-year student of Geology is staying back in Pune as his parents have asked him to search for a summer job here.

"Pune is a costly city. Once hostels close for vacation, it will be hard for us to stay outside. I am looking for part-time jobs to sustain me here. It will be good if we get hostels to stay. The living cost in Pune is high. We are hoping to rent a room in a group and stay here until the hostels reopen," added Ranu.

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