These women in Banaskantha no more carry the pot of water on head, just roll ‘Water Wheel’ along

Palanpur: Gujarat based voluntary organization VSSM has introduced ‘water wheels’ in a village of Banakantha district in attempt to ease the burden of pot (bedu) carried by women on their head.

Mittal Patel, member of Development and Welfare Board for Denotified Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities of Govt. of India and Founder – Trustee of VSSM said, such water wheels are used widely in African countries and they are very popular there. Some use has also been started in neighboring state Rajasthan. 25 such water wheels have been now introduced in Gujarat and distributed among nomadic Bharthari tribe women in village Dhana of Banaskantha district.

She said, the idea has been adopted elsewhere long ago and it has sustained. She said difference between carrying a pot full of water on head and pushing water wheel is same as putting a luggage bag on head in old days vs pulling luggage trolley bag in present days.

She said, each water wheel would cost around Rs. 2500 because, best quality plastic (matching to one used for making of Sintex water tank) needs to be used, as water-wheel has to weather rough and rugged surface of village lands.

Water wheel would contain double the water compared to a single pot (bedu), she added.

DeshGujarat