Reinventing The Wheel - The Thirst Quencher
If you are reading this blog in an afternoon, you might have already consumed around 4-5 glasses of drinking water. That's a lot of water, isn't it? If 'No' is your answer, you must continue to read on.
The U.N predicted, 2/3 of the world's population will suffer water shortages by 2025. Most of us don't even think twice before we waste a cup of drinking water. Did we ever care about what's happening in rural India and other rural regions of the world? To start with, here's a fact - Much of the water available in our country flows into the Arabian sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian ocean because of the lack of distribution and proper storage facilities. One out of seven people in the world lives more than a mile away, from the source of the water they drink.
Across the world in many villages, the search of a viable source and carrying the water often falls as a responsibility for young girls and women. What's the result of it? 25% of their time (roughly comes around 35 Hours in a week) is spent on collecting water for their family (An average family requires at least 5 gallons of water for a healthy life).
Many of us wouldn't have bothered about these facts but Cynthia Koenig (NY) did. When she came to know about one out of seven people in the world lack reliable access to water, she wanted to solve the problem instead of ignoring it. So, what was her solution? 'The water wheel'. The concept as she rightly said, reinventing the wheel (When the wheel was invented, it solved tens and hundreds of problems. I'm sure the reinvented water wheel will do the same for billions of people across the world who lack access to drinking water).
Problem:
Water is heavy but it's a necessity. Young girls and women in villages carry water in their head, which leads to severe chronic pain in head, neck and back. Women spend near about 35 hours in a week, which could otherwise spent productively.
Solution:
Wello Water Wheel - A durable, affordable, convenient & roll-able wheel capable of storing near about 50 litres of water.
Results:
- Safe and hygienic water for the whole family, in just one trip
- Women can spend the most valuable 35 hours in education and move up the ladder in their career
- Water transport made easy and hence less physical strain
Have a look at this video by Cynthia Koenig, in a TedX Gateway event happened in Mumbai on Dec 2012, to figure out how she identified the problem and the solution.
If you are unable to watch this video here, click on this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3Dn868I8RQ)
Imagine the amount of productivity, if an average women or a young girl in a village if she gets 35 extra hours in a week? For sure, the product 'Water wheel' is bound to lift-off burden from the shoulders of billions of people across the world. Not just the burden, it helps in boosting an individual's or a family's economy . Water is the global problem and the women who has to walk a mile for water, loose their time for nothing which they would've otherwise utilized for education, sports and family well being. Global survey results show that women when they get extra time spend it on education, well being and boosting family's economy.
This situation is very common and that too in much of the emerging economies like India, China & Africa. In a summer season, it's not very easy to walk a mile, twice in a day carrying almost 2- litres of water, which by itself is a huge burden.
While Cynthia is planning for a pilot project in Rajasthan to start implementing the water wheel in practice, brands across the world can make use of this opportunity to spread their social marketing messages (Can be a part of your CSR strategy) through this. This might also help Cynthia and team, to bring down the cost of the water wheel, which would eventually be used by a lot of people. The solution is very simple but extremely powerful. This business is what I call it as 'Social Business' which means a business model with a strong social impact. The more the sales, the more the positive impact on community.
People are living on far less than the recommended amount of water to maintain a basic level health. As I showed in the infographic above, it's just because of the poor distribution systems across the country. Most of the drinking water are being wasted into the sea. What can we do about this? May be, we can spread the message to reach the authorities.
As a first step, I've spoken to our local village administrative officer to get in touch with Wello Water and see what we can do for the villages located near our town. The VAO responded positively for this initiative and said he will definitely look into this. I've also written a letter to CM cell, to sponsor this initiative by Cynthia, to help the people who lack access to drinking water across many villages in our state. Those who are reading this blog can consider it as a request. We spend a lot of time for ourselves in a day. Why can't we spend 5 minutes in writing a letter to the government or talking with an authority or a decision maker? If not for the state or country, I hope you will do this small favor to the villages in your vicinity. Thanks a lot in advance :-)
If you want to get in touch with Cynthia, visit www.wellowater.org or tweet @wellowater
Water is not just heavy, it's precious too. Though I'm not asking you to consume less drinking water, think twice before wasting even few drops of it. We can afford it, but not many can.
cynthia koenig
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Franklin Templeton
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Indiblogger
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rural india
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save water
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tedx gateway
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water infographic
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water scarcity
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water wheel
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21 comments :
Wonderful post!!
Nice infographic. Good concept.
Cynthia was just awesome. Thanks for sharing this video :)
Good one deepan.
the video was superb highly inspiring
Impressive and inspiring. Good job.
Absolutely right, we don't often realise the importance of drinking water. Its high time!!
Yes. No doubt about it :-)
Thanks a lot Karthika :-)
You bet that was :-)
Thanks a lot for your kind words :-)
My Pleasure :-)
Glad you liked it :-)
Thanks a lot for your kind words Meghna :-)
Great infographics. All the best
great job. appreciate the effort.
Almost had tears while reading this. The Indian government must take necessary action to reduce the problem at its earliest before people start dying just because of water. Kudos to the initiative you have taken in speaking with an authority. Keep it up.
Thanks a lot Swarnakala :-) Glad you liked it.
Thanks a lot for your kind words :-)
Thank you Swati ji :-)
Cool info-graphic I am sure you would have spent a lot of doing that.
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