Maharashtra woman ploughs field in bullock’s place; govt steps in with a bull

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: In a dust-choked field in Bombali, about 63km from Latur, landless farmer Kashinath Gaikwad watched helplessly as lightning struck one of his two bulls, taking away his only means to plough eight acres before the monsoon. With debt mounting and nowhere to turn, his wife Hausabai stepped into the harness, replacing the animal the family could no longer afford to lose.

The images, capturing the family’s plight, soon burned through social media platforms, with politicians from opposition parties quickly amplifying it and asking how a farmer’s family could be pushed to such a breaking point.

And the cry did not go unheard. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis quickly took note of the family’s predicament. Latur collector Bharat Bastewad, working with principal secretary Shrikar Pardeshi, sprang into action. On Wednesday, officials from multiple state departments reached Gaikwad’s home to hand over a new bull.

For Hausabai, the moment brought visible relief — a pause in the family’s suffering. “We were staring at eight acres of unploughed land and no way forward. Now, that worry is at least over,” she said.

The Gaikwads do not own the land they till. They survive through contract farming, living season to season, debt to debt. With four daughters and two sons already married, their struggle is quiet and ongoing — and all too familiar in rural India.

Collector Bastewad confirmed that all formalities, including the panchnama after the animal’s death, had been promptly completed. “The financial aid towards govt compensation has been sanctioned in accordance with the rules. The amount is being deposited directly into Gaikwad’s bank account,” he said.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar called it ‘the heartrending plight of the food provider'. “…If the family of a food provider, who toils hard to feed the nation, is forced to take the place of an animal, it is not just tragic but deeply painful. I appeal to local officials, elected representatives, and the honourable chief minister to take immediate note of this incident and ensure prompt assistance to this family as a special case,” Pawar said in a social media post on June 9.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve echoed the sentiment, highlighting the urgency and human cost behind the image.

For now, the Gaikwad family has found temporary relief. The field will be ploughed and the kharif season will move forward. But the image of Hausabai, bent against the earth, will linger as a stark reminder of the fragile line between survival and despair.