Beed in central Maharashtra has been in the news for a while. Unfortunately, it has not been for anything positive. Instead, it has been about a three-year drought, with no sign of relief. Data last available is from 2015, which records suicides of 12,600 farmers and agricultural labourers, from lack of income to repay loans. That gives Beed the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of farmer suicides in the country. Things have only got worse this year with the Marathwada region, where Beed is located, facing a drought. Barely 6% live storage is left in the 964 dams with groundwater not showing up even after digging 500 feet into the ground. Helplessness has now engulfed the area with many a farmer setting their orchards on fire. Some have decided to move to adjoining western Maharashtra in the hope for better luck. Just last year, the rain deficit in Marathwada was 22%, with the number in excess of 40% in some taluks. There is very little to suggest that this year will be dramatically different as the battle for survival gains precedence over all else. In election year, when bright promises are made, reality stares grimly back.