Dharashiv: In Maharashtra’s drought-prone Dharashiv district, where farming often struggles to provide a reliable livelihood, a small village has found an alternative in an industry more commonly associated with Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu. Terkheda, in Washi taluka, has grown into a firecracker manufacturing hub, with 50 manufacturing units and over 200 seasonal sale units, drawing traders from across Maharashtra and neighbouring states.

The industry, which began with a single factory in 1983, has expanded into a business with an annual turnover of more than Rs 100 crore. It has also created employment opportunities in a region where limited water availability and unproductive agricultural land have pushed several villagers towards alternative livelihoods.…