This policy brief examines how drought Early Warning Systems (EWS) in Maharashtra can be made more gender-transformative. Drawing from field research with women farmers in Dharashiv, it highlights how current EWS fail to reach or support women due to technological barriers and gendered social norms. Women bear disproportionate burdens during droughts but remain excluded from planning and decision-making. The brief recommends localised, accessible communication, women-led committees, integration of traditional knowledge, and better access to food, water, health, and livelihoods. It advocates for a feminist, inclusive EWS that centres women’s voices, builds resilience, and ensures equitable drought preparedness.