Necessity is the mother of invention, goes an old adage. In Chakulia, some 100km from Jamshedpur, a father is proving it by inventing eco-friendly water containers to support his polio-afflicted child's studies at Jamshedpur Women's College.
In doing so, Anil Pal (65), a Kantaboni villager in Chakulia block of Ghatshila subdivision, East Singhbhum, is also helping many people to drink healthy, cool water from earthen water pots fitted with filters or water bottles coated with laterite soil.
The upper part of the earthen clay filter has a filter candle and the lower part a plastic tap. "I fit the candle before selling the vessel. I also tell buyers to wash candles every week. I sell the earthen clay filters at Rs 700-800 while earthen bottles of various capacities are sold at Rs 40-50 each," Pal said.
Through his earnings, the elderly man can now sponsor his daughter's masters in history at Jamshedpur Women's College, where she stays in the hostel.
Business is booming, he said.
"I got orders for my clay pot filters from Belpahar, Jhargram and other areas in Bengal. Closer home, orders come from Baliguma, Galudih and Ghatshila," said Pal.
Last summer, he had made a few of those. "This year, with the temperature rising sharply again, many people wanted the natural taste of cool water in earthen pitchers with the convenience of a filter. So, buyers contacted me not only from Chakulia but also from areas near Jamshedpur. I thought, this was an opportunity to make some money for Sulata's studies."
At her college, Sulata said she was a proud daughter.
Struck by polio at age three, the girl managed to be admitted to Jamshedpur Women's College for her MA in history in 2015, the college authorities heeding requests from the district administration and Kolhan University vice-chancellor R.P.P. Singh to allow her stay at the campus hostel so that she did not have to commute 200km to and fro a day. The Telegraph had reported her plight before her hostel admission.
But, Sulata has to pay a monthly fee of Rs 300 for boarding and lodging and Rs 770 as semester fees every three months to the college and also paid a one-time admission fee of Rs 1,135, no mean amount for the humble Pal family, small-time potters.
After her matriculation in 2009, Sulata herself reared chicken and goats to sell them as well as eggs to sponsor her studies at Chakulia and Ghatshila colleges during her intermediate and BA. But now, as she stays at a hostel to pursue her MA dream and can't supplement the family income, the money from her father's innovative water containers comes in handy.
"I am so happy my father is doing something innovative to help me study," he said.
Praise is coming Pal's way from others too. Ranchi-based member of the Geological Society of India (GSI) Nitish Priyadarshi praised the innovation. "Water in earthen pots stays cool due to constant evaporation from the vessel's pores. Also, it is better than refrigerated water that can cause a sore throat. If the filter candle is cleaned regularly, water should be safe," said Priyadarshi.
Calling it a praise-worthy effort, former head of department of medicine at MGM Medical College and Hospital Dr Nirmal Kumar also had a word of advice for users. "Clean the earthen pots and candles regularly. Boil the water for nearly 20 minutes, cool it and then store it in the earthen pots," said Dr Kumar.
If you know bravehearts like Anil and Sulata Pal, share their story at ttkhand@abpmail.com
