Water wheels ease women’s load
Barrel, which doubles up as a wheel, makes it easier for women in MP villages to fetch water
about the Water Wheel. A drum costs ₹ 2,500 and it is not possible for us to provide it free of cost so we contacted a private bank and it was ready to bear 90% of the cost under its CSR scheme. We charge 10% of cost, ₹250, from the villagers so that they treat it as their property and use it properly,” said Goyal.
The wheel has set off a circle of change. “Earlier, hardly any male member of a family helped carry the heavy utensils and earthen pots to bring water as they believe fetching water is a woman’s job. But this wheel has now changed their mindset,” said Meena Kushwaha, 32, a resident of Patharihaweli village.
Not just the men, even children would wait enthusiastically for a chance to wheel the drum around to fetch water.
“We were shy initially, but now fetching is more like running a wheel and we enjoy it. My wife is also happy with the help she is getting from me,” said Ramkumar Yadav of Sagoni.
“I don’t remember a single day when I didn’t feel pain in my body as I fetched water from at least 1 kilometre away,” said 60-year-old Phoolbai Kushwaha. “But my health has improved now.”
Former chief medical and health officer Dr Veena Sinha said pain is common among women in such villages. “Many a times, women have complained of uterine prolapse. Carrying heavy loads can also cause female reproductive organs and the intestine to descend. Innovations like the Water Wheel will surely improve the health of women,” she said.