The Water wheels - The Panacea to alleviate miseries......

 

Seven major rivers-Indus, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi and their numerous tributaries flow through India. All rivers, as we know originate from mountain tops and culminate into seas. No wonder India is considered a country of rivers.

The rivers are the main source of sweet water used for human consumption. Since times immemorial the water of rivers and their numerous tributaries have been quenching thirst of the habitat and also irrigate the land for cultivation. India is indeed blessed to have this natural sources of sweet and potable water. A consistent monsoon pattern help maintain the water levels especially for the major rivers. But it is ironic that despite being self sufficient in natural sweet water the country has not been able to maintain its rivers. Gross indiscipline, mindless urbanisation, dumping of industrial wastes, release of sewage into streams and even some not so planned dams are some of the major identifiable blocks that have severely restricted the natural paths of the rivers besides polluting the water itself. The greatest example that shame us are of Ganga and Yamuna. Pollution of unbelievable magnitude has threatened the very existence of these rivers. It is no wonder that even after having so many well directed sweet water sources drought like situations exist at many places. A large section of population is still deprived of pure drinking water. It is a common sight in many places like Rajasthan and Gujarat scores of village women walking miles to fetch water from distant sources. They walk with pots filled with water on their heads. It’s a matter of national shame that even after seven decades the country achieved its independence the basic necessity like drinking water could not be made accessible to a sizeable portion of its populace.

 While succour at macro level remains in the government domain some NGOs have come forward with plans to atleast reduce the pain of women folk who carry water filled pots on their heads. One such measure that has been successfully introduced is WATER WHEELS which are poly ethylene drums designed to carry around 45-50 litres of water. The drums are fitted with rolling mechanisms and shafts at both ends and handles which can be pushed easily to a longer distance. A picture ( taken from Internet) can be used purely as an illustration:

One can very well comprehend that the benefits of such wheeling containers are mani-fold. Not everyone is required to engage herself at the hand pump. A couple of women can pump the water and fill many such containers. Besides, compared to pots a larger quantity of water can be transported at one go. The precious time saved can be used by the women for education or other welfare measures. Heavy pots filled with water carried on heads for years put enormous pressure on the neck and the backbone. No wonder the women later suffer from orthopaedic problems of varied nature. At least such pains and discomfitures are alleviated by these rolling containers. More such research is needed in this field to bring back smiles in the faces of rural women whose contribution in nation building has been enormous and unfathomable.

 

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