ICSSR – 2023 Std. Doc.

:(ICSSR)

Template/Pro forma for Submission

“Transforming Women’s Livelihood through Revival of Gharat/Watermills and

Associated Applications in the Hilly Regions of Uttarakhand”

Date of 1 8 1 2 2 0 2 3
ICSSR Reference F.No.151/CIS-2023-
Submiss D d m m y y y Y
No.: 147/MiInd/SCD
ion:

“Transforming Women’s Livelihood through Revival of Gharat/Watermills and Associated

Applications in the Hilly Regions of Uttarakhand”

Project Duration: from (30.09.2023) to (28.02.2024).

Submitted to:

Indian Council of Social Science Research

(Ministry of Education)
JNU Institutional Area, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg
New Delhi – 110067
Submitted by:
[Prof. Vinay Sharma]
[ Department of Management Studies IIT Roorkee]
Contact No.9839022610

1
 Indian Council of Social Science Research
(Special Call Division)
PROGRESS REPORT

Scheme Name: Make in India

Project Details:
File No (As mentioned in Sanction Order) F.No.151/CIS-2023-147/MiInd/SCD
“Transforming Women’s Livelihood through Revival of
Title of the Study Gharat /Watermills and Associated Applications in the Hilly
Regions of Uttarakhand”
Affiliation Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Date of Commencement as persanction
30.09.2023
order issued
Budget Approved (Rs.) ₹ 600000
Timeline as per original plan Mentioned below (Page No. 3)

Task completed so far during the period under review.

a) Review of Literature: Literature consulted;

Refer Page No. 5-7
Research gap found (approx. 500 words)

b) Preparation of
questionnaire/interviewschedule Attached Page No. 7-8
(attach a copy)

c) Visit to libraries/institutions --------

d) Field work (details of the places
Refer Page No. 9-29
visited and sample)
e) Status of working paper of research
work / completed chapters (attach a Refer Page No. 37-59
copy)
f) Research milestones achieved so far Refer Page No.59-62

g) Tentative date for organizing workshop 2nd week of January

h) Other ----------
Plan towards completion: expected outcome
with respect to socio-economic impact of
Refer Page No. 62
scheme / policy
(approx. 300 words)

2
 1. Timeline as Per the Proposed Plan:

Dec
Oct Oct Nov Dec Jan Jan Feb Feb
Nov16th- 16th-
Tasks done 1st- 16th- 1st- 1st- 1st- 15th- 1st- 15th-
30th till
15th 31st 15th 15th 15th 31st 15th 29th
date
Literature Review

Field Visit 1

Field Visit 2

Analysis of the data

obtained and the
questionnaire during the
2 visits
Field Visit 3 to collect
technical data related to
a main working site
Prototype development
to test proposed
solutions
Planning and
Conduction of 1st
Workshop & Prototype
Testing
Implementation of the
Proposed Solutions at
the Selected Location
and Collection of the
Final Data
Planning and
Conduction 2nd
Workshop

Final Report

3
 • Project Team
A detailed hierarchical organizational structure of the project is as shown below:

1. Dr. Vinay Sharma

PIs and Co-PIs from IIT
Roorkee 2. Dr. Navneet Arora

M. Tech Student Ph.D.

Scholars Mr.Gajendra Giri,
Ms. Kritika Sharma,
Mr. Rakesh Nair
Mr. Subham Rai,
Mr. Abhishek

Research Assistant
B. Tech Students

Mr. Prateek Sharma

Mr. Shubham Singh Mr. Ayush Kishore

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 • Description:

• Prof. Vinay Sharma, Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee

• Prof. Navneet Arora, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, IIT Roorkee
• Mr. Gajendra Giri, Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Design, IIT Roorkee
• Ms. Kritika Sharma, Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Mechanical & Industrial
Engineering, IIT Roorkee
• Mr. Rakesh Nair, Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Management Studies
• Mr. Prateek Sharma, Research Assistant
• Mr. Shubham Rai, M.Tech (Production & Industrial System Engineering), Department
of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, IIT Roorkee
• Mr. Abhishek Shivakumar Pujar, M.Tech, (Additive & Joining Technology)
Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, IIT Roorkee
• Mr. Shubham Singh, B.tech Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee
• Mr. Ayush Kishore, B.tech, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee

2. Literature Review

Women of the Himalayan territories are uncelebrated hard laborers. They work hard daily to
look after their homes and generate income for the family. This can only be understood when
viewed directly. People of the Himalayas are accustomed to living in harmony with nature.
Agriculture is the primary profession. Due to industrialization, men of the family usually
migrate to cities for more livelihood options. Before 1961, a hundred percent of the families
residing in the Himalayan regions used gharats for grinding and other purposes. But that
changed after modern mills arrived. An effort was made to document the status of gharats in
the Pangi and Tissa regions of the Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh. Most functional
gharats were found in the Pangi region, where many motivational factors related to the gharats
were recorded. Some motivational factors were social significance, better quality of the flour,
environment suitability to the regions, and economic viability for the people. More
demotivational factors were reported from the Tissa region, such as distant locations, declining
sources of water, various environmental and geographical issues, low income from gharats,
etc. The researcher also highlighted the importance of providing people with indigenous
sources of livelihood. The situation of gharats is also studied in the Shivalik hills of Jammu
region at J&K. It is reported that gharats are cost-effective, easy to maintain, and eco-friendly.
Respondents also agreed that flour obtained through gharats has more shelf life and is more
nutritious than flour obtained through modern electric mills. Unpredictable rainfall and
snowfall make the functioning of gharats difficult in this region. Declining water levels in
natural reservoirs such as Nallas also result in problems in the operation of the gharats.
Another research reported that the watermills originated around 85 BC, and there were two
types of watermills: ‘Greek mill’ with a horizontal waterwheel and ‘Roman mill’ with a vertical
waterwheel. Both of these mills have the exact mechanism. They employed two circular stones
for grinding purposes, and the upper stone rotates while the lower stone is static. A traditional
watermill is known as ‘Chuskor’ in Arunachal Pradesh. It is believed to utilize minimum
resources and proves cost-efficient, labor-efficient, and sustainable energy means. It has zero

5
operating cost, is environment friendly, and is easy to maintain. Also, the flour obtained
through traditional watermill has a superior taste, flavor, and texture to that obtained from
modern mills. The study of Chuskor also reveals that the only disadvantage it has is that it is
time-consuming, as the speed of the stone’s rotation depends on the volume and flow of the
water.
A project undertaken in the Kamand Valley in the district Mandi of Himachal Pradesh, reveals
that Gharat is a simple technology that harnesses natural resources into energy. But the use of
Gharat is in decline in the region due to various environmental factors and a lack of
technological intervention. This study also found that the wooden turbines of many operational
gharats in the region have been updated to metal turbines. Building dams on the rivers alter the
river systems leading to the non-availability of water for local purposes, including the operation
of gharats. Rantak is the name given to a traditional watermill in Ladakh, India. The research
also supports the advantages of traditional watermills mentioned in other studies. The
improvements are made in the traditional watermill, such as the replacement of the wooden
runner with a hydraulically better-shaped runner with cup-shaped blades and stone bearings
are replaced with cast iron and mild stone bearings that increased the number of revolutions
per minute.
The traditional watermills are upgraded in the Kherola village of the Bhimtal region in the
Nainital district. The wooden runner was replaced with a hydraulically better-shaped runner
with cup-shaped blades. High-Density Polyethylene (HDP) pipes replace the wooden chute.
Also, a system is installed with the watermill where it can be utilized for electricity generation.
Gharats are upgraded for milling and electrification at Ganeshpur and Bon villages of
Uttarkashi district. The improved milling version involves replacing the open wooden chute
with a PVC pipe and spear valve. It also includes the replacement of the wooden runner with a
steel casting and ball bearing. A new house with sufficient storage capacity and working space
is constructed. The improved version of watermills for electrification involves the replacement

of wooden turbine with cross-flow turbine.

Traditional watermills are also upgraded in the buffer zone of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve,
in the Garhwal Hills of Uttarakhand. The mills were upgraded for milling and electrification.
The Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), an NGO,
developed an improved model of a traditional watermill in Dehradun. The improved version
includes replacing a wooden water wheel with a cast steel runner mounted on a steel shaft. A
single steel ball bearing is used at the bottom of the waterwheel. Some other parts were also
upgraded according to different applications. Villagers near Dehradun accept the improved
version to a great extent.

Patents:

Two patents based on the principle of gharats exist. Their brief description is as follows:

A) Mangal Turbine cum Gharat (IN201202598I1)

• It has a shaft a) fixed to a water wheel, b) to run the wheel according to available water
power, and a belt pulley to convert flowing water current velocity into mechanical
energy of rotation to rotate the water wheel to operate the watermill for grinding.
• It can be used in hilly and plain areas for drinking and irrigation.

6
 • The researcher mentions that modern mills are not environmentally friendly, and the
quality of flour obtained through Gharat is superior to that obtained through modern
mills.
B) Portable Gharat (Portable Watermill) (IN201202599I1)

• It runs without natural fall and natural flow. It converts the energy of the water velocity
of a pump into the mechanical energy of rotation and utilizes the mechanical energy for
grinding grains.
• The researcher mentions that modern mills are not environmentally friendly, and the
quality of flour obtained through Gharat is superior to that obtained through modern
mills.
Research Gaps:

• Gharats are a central source of energy that has tremendous applications in farm
irrigation, processing requirements, and farm produce.
• Although an essential energy source, the efficiency of a traditional watermill is always
in doubt.
• The challenges that are enlisted in the report put forth further gaps in the research.

3. Questionnaire/ प्रश्नांक:

1. मिल का िामलक कौन है ?

2. यह मिल मकसने बनाई?
3. आपने मिल चलाना कैसे सीखा?
4. िामलक से पहले मिल कौन चलाता था?
5. प्रमतमिन मिल से प्राप्त आटे की औसत िात्रा मकतनी है ?
6. मकतने परिवाि चक्की का उपयोग पीसने के मलए किते हैं ?
7. क्या िामलक के परिवाि की िमहलाएँ मिल चला सकती हैं ?
8. क्या सिुिाय की िमहलाएँ मिल पि मनर्भि हैं ? यमि हाां तो कैसे?
9. मिल पि मनर्भि सिुिाय िें िमहलाओां की अनुिामनत सांख्या?
10. िामलक केवल मिल से मकतना किा िहा है ? क्या िामलक अन्य आजीमवका गमतमवमियोां िें लगा
हुआ है? यमि हाँ , तो वे क्या हैं?
11. िामलक द्वािा मिल को चलाने िें मकतना सिय व्यतीत होता है (प्रमत मिन िानव घांटोां की सांख्या)?
12. मिल के सांचालन िें मकन चुनौमतयोां का सािना किना पड़ता है ?
13. क्या आप सर्ी िौसिोां िें मिल चलाने िें सक्षि हैं ?
14. आप ििम्मत कैसे किते हैं - इसिें मकतना सिय लगता है , औि यह मकतना जमटल है (सिस्याग्रस्त
र्ागोां के मलए)?
15. मिल िामलक या मिल से जुड़े लोग मिल िें क्या बिलाव या परिवतभन चाहते हैं ?
16. क्या मिल िें पहले कोई परिवतभन मकया गया है ? यमि हाँ , तो वे परिवतभन क्या थे?
17. क्या िामलक के कोई बच्चे हैं? क्या िामलक चाहता है मक उसके बाि उसका बच्चा र्ी मिल िें काि
किे ?

7
 18. क्या घिाट का उपयोग पीसने के अलावा मकसी अन्य कायभ के मलए मकया जाता है ?
19. क्या िामलक मिल को मबजली उत्पन्न किने के मलए या अनाज पीसने के अलावा अन्य उद्दे श्ोां के
मलए अनुकूमलत किने िें रुमच िखता है ?
20. इस पािां परिक ज्ञान की सुिक्षा औि प्रचाि-प्रसाि िें सािुिामयक र्ागीिािी बढाने के मलए क्या उपाय
मकए जा सकते हैं ?
21. मिल के साथ मकन अन्य प्रमियाओां औि कायों पि एक साथ काि मकया जा सकता है ?

Analysis of Questionnaire:

Traditional Knowledge and Expertise:

• Mr. Dangwal's water mill (Gharat) has been a family legacy, and he's learned its
operation from his ancestors since childhood. This heritage represents a deep-seated
traditional knowledge passed down through generations.

Daily Operations and Community Impact:

• He grinds three quintals of grains daily, benefiting around 200-250 families reliant on
his mill for grinding. Women also participate in operating the mill and earn a daily
wage, contributing to the local economy.
Challenges Faced:
• Mr. Dangwal faces multiple challenges, including maintaining the water channel,
dealing with pipe bursts, and managing the stopper. The geographical location poses
risks, such as injuries due to the difficult mountainous path, wildlife encounters, and
poisonous plants.

Seasonal Limitations:
• During the farming season (May 15 to June 15), the mill needs to shut down to redirect
water for agricultural purposes, limiting its operational time.

Maintenance and Resource Constraints:

• Maintenance is a major challenge as getting external technicians is expensive and
there's a lack of nearby facilities. Dangwal takes personal responsibility for
maintenance and has even constructed a water tank for the mill.

Preservation of Tradition and Culture:

• Mr. Dangwal emphasizes the importance of preserving traditional techniques and
cultural heritage associated with water mills, intending to pass down this knowledge to
future generations.

Diversification and Business Opportunities:

• Apart from grinding grains and generating electricity, Mr. Dangwal engages in wood-
cutting activities. He envisions expanding the mill's potential by exploring additional
processes and even sees opportunities in tourism due to its location on the national
highway.

8
 Future Prospects and Entrepreneurship:

• He proposes leveraging the water mill as a business venture by offering food made from
the nutritious flour produced, potentially opening a restaurant nearby. He aims to create
awareness about water mills and suggests including this topic in school curriculums.

4. Field Visit at Clusters District Uttarkashi:

A field visit was carried out to gain insights into the challenges encountered by Gharat owners
in Uttarkashi. The primary objectives were to comprehend the operational intricacies of the
Gharat system, understand its working mechanisms, and identify opportunities for
incorporating innovations to enhance its efficiency. The visit involved direct engagement with
Gharat owners, allowing us to gather valuable information regarding their experiences,
concerns, and suggestions. By closely observing the functioning of the Gharat system and
soliciting feedback from owners, the team aimed to pinpoint specific areas for improvement
and innovation that could contribute to making the Gharat more efficient in its operations.

Field visit video link:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/P51v9Y6rwmHWmpN36

https://photos.app.goo.gl/H4E6kzWTpZEVSfeh8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/nbsdADu926vJCMkv8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9SVnF5eR1hgwXYRZ6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2kQVWCMm2Xd2xZzi6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/d8Q2MKR1PMeV8o739

https://photos.app.goo.gl/HT1uRk6gRttj2oAY7

9
Cluster 1st

Nakori Gharat No 1 (Uttarkashi)

A meeting was organized in the Nakori region of Dunda, Uttarkashi, to discuss improvements
to water mills (Gharat) and cleanliness related to grain storage. The meeting commenced at the
residence of Mr. Vijaysherwar Prasad Dangwal, the coordinator of Nakuri village's water mill.
During the meeting, it was decided to focus on renovations for the water mills and address
issues related to the cleanliness of grains He also mentioned that operating the water mill poses
significant challenges for him. Whenever there is a technical issue with the mill, there is no
nearby shop to repair it, resulting in the mill being shut down. To rectify any technical problems
and get the mill back in working order, one has to travel a considerable distance, causing further
inconvenience.

Finding:

Critical Need for Improvements:

• The meeting emphasized the urgent requirement for enhancements in water mills and
grain storage cleanliness in Nakori, Dunda, Uttarkashi.
• Acknowledging the crucial role these elements play in the community's daily life and
economy.

Proactive Renovation Decision:

• Prioritizing renovations for water mills demonstrates a proactive stance in addressing
challenges faced by Mr. Vijaysherwar Prasad Dangwal.
• Signifying a commitment to long-term solutions for sustaining water mill operations.

Local Solutions for Urgent Issues:

• The discussion underscored the immediacy of technical challenges and the lack of
nearby repair facilities.
• Emphasizing the need for local solutions to ensure the ongoing and efficient functioning
of water mills in Nakori, highlighting the community's self-reliance.

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 Fig. 1: Group photos with local people

Fig. 2: Checking the working of stopper Fig. 3: Signatures of local people

11
 Fig. 4: Discussion with owner

Cluster 2nd

Gebula Gharat No. 2 (Uttarkashi)

A meeting was organized at Mr. Budhilal's residence to gather information related to the issues
concerning his mill. During the meeting, Mr. Budhilal provided details about problems such as
water leakage and the improper functioning of the turbine. He explained that the gradual
deterioration of the mill was attributed to factors like a scarcity of water for efficient operation
and a lack of nearby resources for maintenance.
Mr. Budhilal emphasized that the slow decay of the mill could be averted by implementing
technical improvements. He suggested that addressing issues such as water scarcity and
enhancing maintenance facilities in the vicinity could contribute to the smooth functioning of
the mill. He also mentioned that with some technical enhancements, the mill could be manually
operated without any complications. Even in scenarios with reduced water availability, the mill
could be efficiently managed with proper adjustments.
Additionally, Mr. Budhilal highlighted the importance of making improvements in the storage
system to prevent the scattering of flour and to ensure that the flour is collected in one place,
which would eliminate the need for unnecessary transportation. He suggested that with these
enhancements, the milling process could be streamlined and the overall efficiency of the
operation could be significantly improved.

12
Finding:

Identified Challenges:
• The meeting at Mr. Budhilal's residence highlighted key challenges such as water
leakage, turbine malfunction, and a lack of nearby maintenance resources.
• These issues were identified as major contributors to the gradual deterioration of the
mill's operational efficiency.

Potential Technical Improvements:

• Mr. Budhilal emphasized the potential for technical improvements to address water
scarcity and enhance maintenance facilities.
• This suggests a proactive approach to overcoming the identified challenges and
ensuring the long-term smooth operation of the mill.

Promising Solutions Proposed:

• Mr. Budhilal's suggestions, including manual operation adjustments and storage system
enhancements, offer promising avenues to streamline the milling process.
• Implementation of these recommendations could significantly improve overall
operational efficiency, leading to a sustainable and more effective milling operation for
Mr. Budhilal.

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Fig. 5: Signature of local people

Fig. 6: Gharat machinery setup Fig. 7: Discussion with owner

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Cluster 3rd

Gavla Gharat No. 3 (Uttarkashi)

A field visit was conducted to Water Mill No. 3 operated by Mr. Chandrasekhar, during which
he shared comprehensive insights about the challenges associated with the mill. Chandrasekhar
explained that due to excessive rainfall, the mill often had to be shut down, impacting his sole
source of income and livelihood. He further highlighted that, in the absence of technical
improvements, people nowadays prefer using commercially ground flour from electric flour
mills instead of traditionally milled flour from water mills.
Chandrasekhar expressed concern about the practicality of relying on traditionally ground flour
from water mills, as its availability is affected by factors such as inclement weather conditions,
water overflow, and scarcity. He emphasized that the nutritional value of traditionally ground
flour is superior, but its consistent availability is hindered by these external factors.
Chandrasekhar pointed out that managing the water flow is crucial for both operating and
shutting down the water mill, necessitating frequent trips up and down the hills to address
blockages. This poses a significant risk to personal safety.
He suggested that with technical improvements, the water mill could be efficiently operated,
ensuring a consistent supply of traditionally ground flour. Chandrasekhar emphasized the need
for these enhancements to make the water mill viable for future generations, encouraging its
sustainable use.

Finding:

Rainfall-Induced Challenges:
• The field visit to Water Mill No. 3, operated by Mr. Chandrasekhar, revealed significant
challenges arising from excessive rainfall.
• Frequent shutdowns due to weather-related issues were identified, impacting the
reliability of the water mill and, consequently, Mr. Chandrasekhar's livelihood.

Concerns about Traditional Flour Availability:

• Mr. Chandrasekhar expressed concerns about the inconsistent availability of
traditionally ground flour, primarily influenced by weather conditions and water-related
issues.
• Emphasizing the need for technical improvements to enhance the water mill's efficiency
and make traditionally ground flour a more reliable and sustainable source.

Vitality of Water Mill for Future Livelihoods:

• Addressing these challenges is deemed vital not only for preserving the nutritional
value of traditionally ground flour but also for sustaining the water mill as a viable and
safe livelihood option.

15
 • Ensuring the longevity of the water mill becomes crucial for future generations,
emphasizing the broader impact on the community's economic stability and well-being.

Fig. 8: Signatures of locals

Fig. 9: Flow of water in Canal Fig. 10: Gharat setup (Grinding Setup)

Fig. 11: Photos with local people

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Cluster 4th

Bandarkot Gharat No.4 (Uttarkashi)

Mr. Mohanlal operates Water Mill No. 4, where our field visit revealed that, in addition to
grinding wheat, he also extracts coconut oil, peanut oil, and mustard oil using the water mill.
He shared that he faces numerous challenges, with occasional shutdowns during heavy rainfall
significantly impacting his livelihood. This situation often forces their children to migrate as
the water mill serves as their primary source of income.
Mohanlal explained that the process of shutting down and restarting the water mill involves
running, posing difficulties that increase the risk of damage to the millstones. Consequently,
electric flour mills have been introduced in the hills, leading to a decline in employment
opportunities. Unlike water mills, electric mills require only one laborer, but they consume
more electricity. If the water mill is appropriately improved, it can serve as a sustainable and
lucrative source of income in the hills, preserving traditional milling practices and preventing
their extinction.

Finding:

Challenges during Heavy Rainfall:

• Mr. Mohanlal's operation of Water Mill No. 4 faces challenges associated with
occasional shutdowns during heavy rainfall.
• These interruptions not only impact his livelihood but also compel his children to
migrate, highlighting the broader social and economic consequences.

Difficulties in Shutdown and Restart Process:

• The process of shutting down and restarting the water mill poses difficulties,
contributing to the risk of damage to the millstones.
• This operational challenge adds to the overall vulnerability of the traditional milling
practices.

Preserving Traditional Methods for Sustainability:

• Despite the threat posed by electric flour mills and the decline in employment
opportunities, Mr. Mohanlal believes that appropriate improvements can make the
water mill a sustainable and lucrative source of income.
• His vision is centered on preserving traditional methods and preventing their extinction
in the region, emphasizing the cultural and economic significance of these practices.

17
Fig. 12: Signatures of locals

Fig. 13: Water flow in open Fig. 14: Gharat outer appearance
channel

Fig. 15: Discussion with owner

18
Cluster 5th

Ganeshpur Gharat No. 5 (Uttarkashi)

Mr. Chandra Singh Rana of Ganeshpur village, heading towards Gharat No. 5, discovered upon
arrival that his water mill had been closed down. The reason behind its closure was revealed to
be a natural disaster, a flood caused by excessive water. Wherever we went, the predominant
issue mentioned was the overflow of water, leading to the closure of water mills. Mr. Rana
explained that the local residents were keen on operating the water mills, but they were facing
challenges in obtaining support and lacked comprehensive information on how to run them.
The livelihoods of these individuals are entirely dependent on operating these water mills, but
now they are compelled to shift due to the prevailing circumstances.
This Gharat was shut down due to the low water level at the time of the visit.

Finding:

Prevalent Issue:
• The visit to Gharat No. 5 in Ganeshpur village, led by Mr. Chandra Singh Rana,
revealed a widespread problem of water mill closures.
• Natural disasters, particularly floods caused by excessive water, were identified as a
key factor leading to the closure of water mills in the region.

Need for Support and Information:

• Mr. Rana emphasized the residents' eagerness to operate the mills but highlighted the
crucial need for support and comprehensive information on their management.
• The closure of Gharat No. 5 due to low water levels underscores the vulnerability of
livelihoods linked to water mills, prompting some residents to consider relocation.

Crucial for Sustainability:

• Addressing these challenges is crucial for the sustainable operation of water mills and
the preservation of livelihoods associated with them.
• This underlines the broader impact on the community's well-being and the importance
of implementing measures to safeguard against natural disasters affecting water mill
operations.

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Cluster 6th

Ganeshpur Gharat No. 6 (Uttarkashi)

During our field visit to Ganeshpur village in Uttarkashi, we encountered Maheshwari, a

resilient woman whose husband had passed away. He was the proprietor of a traditional
watermill called a "Gharat," and now, her son has taken up the responsibility of managing the
family business. It was evident from our interactions with various Gharats in the area that the
younger generation is generally disinterested in such traditional enterprises, often relying solely
on modern technology.
However, Maheshwari's son stands out as an exception, demonstrating unwavering dedication
to the operation of the Gharat. In our conversation with him, he shared some significant
challenges he faces while running the business. These challenges shed light on the struggles
inherent in maintaining and preserving traditional practices in the face of a growing reliance
on modern technology among the younger population
The Owner of the Gharat shared with us certain challenges and issues they were facing.
• While operating the Gharat, if one needs to halt its functioning, it necessitates ascending
the mountain or covering a certain distance to reach the site. This task is occasionally
compounded by adverse weather conditions such as rain or obstacles like stones on the
pathway, thereby elevating the risk of potential injuries or even the loss of life.
• Another issue they mentioned was that whenever they feed something into the
watermill for grinding, it becomes challenging to measure its quantity accurately. If
they put in too little, the watermill operates at a faster pace, potentially causing the
machine to malfunction. On the other hand, if they input too much, it poses difficulties,
and they are unable to determine the exact quantity of grains being processed.

Finding:

Commendable Dedication:
• Maheshwari's son in Ganeshpur village stands out for his dedication to operating the
traditional watermill (Gharat), unlike many of his peers.
• His commitment reflects a commendable effort to preserve traditional practices in the
face of a broader trend towards modern technology.

Highlighted Challenges:
• Challenges raised by Maheshwari's son, such as the perilous task of reaching the mill
site and the difficulty in accurately measuring input quantity, underscore the struggles
faced in maintaining traditional practices.
• These challenges reveal the tangible difficulties that individuals committed to
traditional enterprises encounter.

20
 Crucial for Sustainability and Tradition:
• Addressing these challenges becomes crucial not only for sustaining Maheshwari's
son's watermill but also for preserving valuable traditions within the community.
• It emphasizes the need for solutions that balance tradition and modernity, ensuring the
continuity of these practices
• while adapting to contemporary challenges.

Fig. 16: Electric grinding machine with

Gharat setup

Fig. 17: Photos with owner Fig. 18: Description of Gharat

21
Gharat Owner Name at Uttarkashi

S.No Gharat Owner Name Cluster Name

1. Mr. Vijayeshwar prasad Dangwal Nakori

2. Mr, Budhilal Gebula

3. Mr. Chandrasekhar Gavla

4. Mr. Mohanlal Bandarkot

5. Mr. Chandra Singh Rana Ganeshpur

6. Ms. Maheshwari Ganeshpur

22
List of Beneficiaries at field site Uttarkashi

S.No Name Aadhar No. Mobile No.

1. Purn Singh Rawat 616743431660 NA

2. Anmol Singh Bisht 260790697255 NA

3. Indrajit Singh 722663731979 NA

4. Shyami Devi 418557678507 NA

5. Munni Devi 394963469765 NA

6. Bhadar Singh Negi 951274398979 NA

7. Bachna Devi 970107512517 NA

8. Rajendra Lal Singot 920922635710 NA

9. Virendra Singh Parmar 533867228653 NA

10. Vimla Devi 668582987491 NA

11. Devika 547541104732 NA

12. Dhanveer Singh Bisht 419248913313 NA

13. Kavendra Singh Bisht 702693595478 NA

14. Biharilal Kohli 805400443292 9557423408

15. Ranveer Singh Bisht 431080329664 8126158240

16. Geeta Bisht 335717831631 9837674726

17. Mamta Bisht 528372354716 7465849129

18. Savita Kunsi 492617988968 9997324737

19. Purni Devi 880806865386 NA

20. Ranveer Singh Negi 449866823462 NA

21. Mahendra Bisht 772710086958 NA

22. Om Prakash 546550265855 NA

23. Chandra Singh Rana NA 9458328682

24. Dinesh Bhatt NA 8057612248

25. Janam Chand Ramola NA NA

26. Diya Devi Ramola NA NA

27. Rajni Parmar NA NA

28. Sumitra Kalhuda NA NA

29. Santoshi Kalhuda NA NA

30. Indu Parmar NA NA

31. Reshma Parmar NA NA

32. Deepika Ramola NA NA

33. Purini Devi Ramola NA NA

23
34. Chaman Lal NA NA

35. Roshni Parmar NA NA

36. Yudhvir Singh Bisht NA NA

37. Shailendra Singh Bisht NA NA

38. Mahendra Devi NA NA

39. Surchit Parmar NA NA

40. Satya Rawat NA 8958849496

41. Subhash Rawat NA 7302714239

42. Devendra Bahuguna NA 8937060954

43. Pushpa NA NA

44. Indu Parmar NA NA

45. Sarat Parmar NA NA

46. Guru Prashad Matahani NA NA

47. Janm Chandra Ramola NA NA

48. Surendra Chandra Ramola NA NA

49. Vanshika NA NA

50. Neha Parmar NA NA

51. Rajni Parmar NA NA

52. Deepika NA NA

53. Roshni Ramola NA NA

54. Pushpa Devi Ramola NA NA

55. Satya Singh Rawat NA NA

56. Dharmendra Singh Rawat NA NA

57. Mamta Nautiyal NA NA

58. Maheshwari Nautiyal NA NA

59. Seema Nautiyal NA NA

60. Usha Badhani NA NA

61. Bulbul NA NA

62. Meenakshi Nautiyal NA NA

63. Sanjay Badhani NA NA

64. Utsav Bhatt NA NA

65. Abhinav NA NA

66. Ankit NA NA

67. Sanju Bhatt NA NA

68. Bhagwant Singh Rawat NA NA

69. Chandrasekhar Chamoli NA NA

24
70. Vijay Lakshmi NA NA

71. Sudhir Silwal NA NA

72. Dharma Devi NA NA

73. Guru Prasad Maithani NA NA

74.

25
List of benificries and signature:

26
27
28
29
Technical Specifications of Gharat’s and photos:

Gharat 1: Nakori (Uttarkashi)

Water head: 20 feet/ 6 to 7 mts

Flow-rate: 26.66 cubic. mts/min

Water supply:

Taken off the free-flowing stream of a water-course, diverted using channel into a mini water
tank. The mini water tank serves as a reservoir for short time to the water coming from the
channel. The reservoir helps in creating the required head of the water to run the mill.
The water from the reservoir is then fed to the turbine using penstock of 12-inch PVC pipe. A
nozzle of 6 inch is then connected to the end of this pipe, creating the constriction, this acts as
a converging nozzle, hence increases the speed of the water stream.

Turbine specifications:

Steel turbine which looks something like a Turgo turbine, 20 curved bladed, making
approximately 20 deg. to axis of rotation. Attached to a solid Metal shaft. Axis of rotation is
vertical.

Flour mill specifications:

The flour mill is made up of two huge and thick cylindrical rocks, one rock is stationary, and
another rotatable on top. The rotatable rock is connected to the turbine shaft at its centre, and
rotates horizontally along with the turbine at 1:1 drive ratio. The interacting surfaces are made
jaggy so that the grains could enter between the two surfaces, otherwise the grinding of the
grains wouldn’t be possible.
The speed of the rotating rock was less as compared to the electric flour mills, as per the
observations the rotational speed of the Gharat is around 972 rpm (maximum). The rotating
rock has a 4 to 5-inch diameter hole where the grains are fed for grinding.

Grain feed system:

The grains are stored in a hopper above the grinding rocks. The grains from the hopper are
tapped into a narrow wooden channel which ends exactly above the hole of the rotating rock.
The flow of the grains happens only if the hopper or the grain channel below the hoper is
vibrated, the vibrations for this purpose is provided by a wooden stick which hooks its one end
on the metal rod which is passing through the grain feed channel and its other end is free to
slide over the rough surface of the rotating rock. The moving rough surface underneath the
wooden stick make it to vibrate the metal pin, which eventually vibrates the grain feed channel.
The amount of vibration can be adjusted with the string that is tied up to the pin passing through
the grain feed channel by adjusting its tension.

30
Fig. 19: Measuring the rpm of grinding
stone by Tachometer Fig. 21: Stopper photo

Fig. 20: Tachometer reading Fig. 22: Grinding process

31
Gharat No. 2: Gebula (Uttarkashi)

Water head: Between 15 to 20 ft.

Water supply:

12-inch PVC pipe from a short reservoir tank. The opening of the pipe in the tank was covered
by a metallic mesh to prevent debris entering the pipe.

Turbine specifications:

The turbine was a steel one as per information by the owner. The dimensions of the turbine
might be the same as Gharat 1

Flour mill specifications:

Two horizontally placed heavy cylindrical rocks, one stationary and one rotating, driven
directly by the turbine shaft.

Grain feed system:

Metal hopper with wooden grain feed channel. And similar system as Gharat 01 to vibrate and
control the feed of the grains to the mill.

Fig. 23: Turbine

32
Gharat No. 3: Gavla (Uttarkashi)

Water head: 20 to 25 ft

Water supply: 12-inch PVC pipe, water is taken from a small reservoir tank.

Turbine specifications: Steel turbine with similar specifications as in the Gharat 1 and 2,

Flour mill specifications: Stone was diametrically wider than that of the Gharat 1 and 2 but
was less in its thickness. Speed was around 120 rpm,

Grain feed system: It was similar to that of the other two Gharat mentioned above, the only
difference was the size and shape of the stick that vibrates the grain feed channel. The
sticthicker and shorter.

Fig. 24: Gharat grinding stone diameter measurement

33
Gharat No.4

Bandarkot (Uttarkashi)
Water head: 20 feet

Water supply:

This Gharat had the primitive way of delivering the water from reservoir tank to the turbine.
10*12-inch steel plates were used to make an open canal which open at the tank and extends
till the turbine. This system was purely based on converting the kinetic energy of the free-
flowing water down the tank into work as there was no closed pipe to increase the pressure in
the system unlike the previous Gharat that were visited before.

Turbine specifications: Steel turbine, with similar dimensions as other Gharat.

Flour mill specifications:

The rock setup was similar to that of all the previously observed Gharat. The cylindrical rock’s
diameter was 26-inch, thickness was 10.5 inch and had a inner hole of 4.5 inches. And could
rotate at a speed of 130 rpm.

Grain feed system: The grain feeding system was similar with a metal hopper and wooden
channel and a stick for vibrations.

Fig. 25: Top view of turbine

34
Gharat No. 5 Ganeshpur (Uttarkashi)

This Gharat was shut down due to low water level at the time of visit.

Water head: 10 to 15 feet., this Gharat had comparatively low water head than that of the other
Gharats that were previously observed.

Water supply: This Gharat also had the open channel type of water delivery system from
reservoir to the turbine. The penstock was made up of long wooden planks.

Turbine specifications: Wooden turbine, the shaft was also wooden. The flat wooden planks
were made into blades attached to a thick wooden log. The blades were at some angle about 20
to 25 deg. to the axis of rotation.

Flour mill specifications: The mill was similar to that of the previously observed Gharats with
huge cylindrical rocks.

Grain feed system: The grain feeding system was similar with a metal hopper and wooden
channel and a stick for vibrations.

Gharat No. 6 Ganeshpur (Uttarkashi)

This Gharat was shut down due to low water level at the time of visit.

Water head: 15 to 20 feet.

Water supply: This Gharat also had the open channel type of water delivery system from
reservoir to the turbine. The penstock was made up of long steel planks.

Turbine specifications: Steel turbine, the shaft was also steel. The flat steel planks were made
into blades attached to a thick steel log. The blades were at some angle about 20 to 25 deg. to
the axis of rotation.

Flour mill specifications: The mill was similar to that of the previously observed Gharats with
huge cylindrical rocks.

Grain feed system: The grain feeding system was similar with a metal hopper and wooden
channel and a stick for vibrations.

35
Fig. 26: Grinding machine pully Fig. 27: Power transmitting setup of Gharat
and belt drive System (Pully and belt drive

36
 Theme: Make In India
F.No. 151/CIS-2023-147/MiInd/SCD
Supervisor: Dr. Richa Sharma
Deputy Director
Special Call Division
ICSSR

Project Title: Transforming Women’s Livelihood through Revival of

Gharats/Watermills and Associated Applications in the Hilly Regions of
Uttarakhand
Working Paper
on
Promoting Sustainable Livelihood by Improving the Indigenous
Watermills (Gharats) of Uttarkashi
Dr. Vinay Sharma*, Dr. Navneet Arora**, Kritika Sharma***, Gajendra Giri****, Rakesh
Nair*****Prateek Sharma******, Subham Rai, Abhishek S Pujar*******, Ayush Kishore,
Shubham Singh, Shreyansh Jain********
*Professor, Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee
**Professor, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, IIT Roorkee
***Research Scholar, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, IIT Roorkee
****Research Scholar, Department of Design, IIT Roorkee
*****Research Scholar, Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee
******Research Assistant, IIT Roorkee
*******M.tech Students, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, IIT Roorkee
********B.Tech Students, Civil Engineering Department, IIT Roorkee

Abstract:
The Himalayas are abundant in natural resources. Since time immemorial, people in the region
have harnessed these resources using traditional knowledge. Traditional wisdom has enabled
people to maintain sustainable livelihoods. Gharat has been a part of this traditional wisdom
that utilizes the kinetic energy of water from rivers, perennial streams, rivulets, glaciers, etc.
This kinetic energy is then converted to mechanical energy, which is subsequently used to grind
grains, pulses, spices, etc. The products obtained from traditional watermills are healthier as
the nutrients are preserved. Gharats are also suitable according to the geophysical nature of the
Himalayas. The onset of electric or diesel-powered mills posed challenges for the Gharat
operators, resulting in various traditional watermills turning obsolete and their owners without
any source of livelihood. The difficulties and challenges the Gharat owners face have also led

37
to disinterest among the younger generation, resulting in their migrating to cities and towns for
opportunities. Technological interventions and managerial solutions are required to revive this
traditional knowledge. This paper highlights the efforts made in the Uttarkashi region of
Uttarakhand to address the challenges faced in the operation of the gharats.
Keywords: Traditional; Gharat; Livelihood; Himalayas; Uttarkashi.

1. Introduction
People in the remote Himalayan regions depend on the natural resources readily available to
fulfill daily needs. They also adopt methods that suit their needs and harmonize with the
environment. Women play a pivotal role in the Himalayan economy (Uniyal et al., 2007). Men
of the family usually migrate to cities for better opportunities. So, the sole responsibility lies
with the women (Qureshi, 2021). They are engaged in household activities as well as
agricultural work. The traditional knowledge of a traditional watermill can create a self-
sustained ecosystem for the region as it can fulfill various needs and act as a sustainable source
of livelihood (Vohra & Bahukhandi, 2021). Gharat, or a traditional watermill, is a mechanical
structure that utilizes the kinetic energy of water from various natural resources and converts
it into mechanical energy for grinding. It is an environment-friendly and sustainable energy
resource (Lal, B., Rana, D., & Bhatt, 2019). A traditional watermill is one of the earliest known
mechanical devices that utilizes the kinetic energy of flowing water and converts it into
mechanical energy to rotate the grinding stones to obtain ground flour (Wilson, 2007). It is
known by different names in different regions of India, such as Rantak in Ladakh and Chuskor
in Arunachal Pradesh. Still, it is most commonly known as Ghat or Gharat throughout the
Himalayan region (Bhatt et al., 2021). There are approximately 200,000 gharats in the entire
Himalayan region, out of which 70,000 are there in Uttarakhand alone (Agarwal, n.d.). There
is mention of two types of traditional watermills in the western world; Greek mill with a
horizontal waterwheel and Roman mill with a vertical waterwheel, although, horizontal
waterwheel was most commonly used due to ease of operation. There has been efforts in
Europe to revive these traditional watermills (Sánchez-Jiménez & González, 2018).
In various regions of the Himalayas, people still prefer using flour obtained from gharats as it
is healthier and tastier. The owner of a Gharat is known as a gharati. In many types of research,
it has been found that the slow speed of grinding in gharats does not destroy the nutrients of
the grains and thus retains their nutritional value (R. C. Sharma et al., 2008). Also, the structure
of Gharat is surrounded by water; therefore, the flour remains cool, increasing its shelf life (P.

38
Kumar et al., 2023). In a project undertaken at Kamand Valley in Mandi, it has been mentioned
that eating only electrically milled flour for the longer term has devastating health effects. A
study on rats eating different types of flour in Germany in 1970 proved that only those fed with
fresh stone ground flour could maintain their fertility (Leiro et al., 2015).
Gharats are still functional in many hilly regions of Uttarakhand. Earlier, the turbine was
generally made of walnut wood (Bhatt et al., 2021), but now is being replaced by metal turbine
that improved the performance of Gharat (R. Kumar et al., 2018). In many regions, the Gharat
is also used to generate electricity, which has, thus, resulted in the electrification of remote
villages in the hilly regions that were earlier devoid of power (Nautiyal et al., 2011).
In many regions, people use the arrangement of gharats to operate kolhu to obtain natural cold-
pressed oils (Kothari et al., n.d.). The fisheries are being made near the Gharat. The water from
the channels made for Gharat is also used for irrigation of their fields and to maintain bee farms.
All these activities supplement the income of the owners of Gharat (Agarwal, n.d.). Table 1
summarizes the various benefits of gharats.
Table 1. Benefits of Gharat
S.No. Benefits
1. Cheap and clean source of energy
2. Sustainable and eco-friendly
3. Cheap and easy maintenance
4. Zero operating cost
5. Symbol of Communal harmony
6. Suitable to the geophysical environment of the Himalayas
7. The flour obtained is much tastier and healthier due to low speeds of grinding

According to a census, before 1961, hundred percent of the population in the Himalayan region
used Gharat for grinding purposes. The usage of Gharat was reduced due to the arrival of
electric or fuel-powered mills, which involved less labor. Road connectivity also improved in
various Himalayan territories, which increased the locals' access to the market, and thus, they
started buying packaged products readily available in the market. There also has been a drop
in the availability of skilled labor for installing the new gharats and repairing the existing ones
(R. C. Sharma et al., 2008).
In previous times, gharats were a symbol of communal harmony as people used to come
together for various activities. Due to the loss of this traditional knowledge and the migration

39
of people to the lower valleys, this communal spirit has been lost. There was no monetary
exchange for grinding as the owners would keep some part of the ground flour or grind in
exchange for any help received in installing or repairing gharats (R. C. Sharma et al., 2008).
A decreased water level in the natural springs and other natural resources has also made gharats
obsolete (Acharya, 2012). The hydel power projects in the Himalayan region also create a
nuisance as they disturb the natural flow of the rivers (H. K. Sharma & Rana, 2014). Thus,
people cannot obtain water to run the gharats.
Due to lack of outside support and innovation, the gharats are becoming obsolete in many
places. Locals are not able to generate sufficient income for maintaining livelihood from older
versions of Gharat. Thus, people shut off Gharat and migrated to cities for more opportunities.
Electric and fuel-powered mills will ultimately be rendered useless as they utilize non-
renewable resources such as diesel. Also, they are a source of pollution. The nutritional value
of the flour obtained from modern mills is almost nil as the nutrients of the grains are destroyed
due to the high speed of operation (Bhatt et al., 2021). Moreover, installing a modern mill in
the fragile Himalayas is not sustainable. Table 2 summarizes the weaknesses associated with
traditional watermills that are rendering them obsolete.
Table 2: Weaknesses Associated with Gharats
S.No. Weaknesses
1. Low Income
2. Reduced Community Support
3. Access to modern electric and diesel-powered mills
4. Improved road connectivity and access to packaged products
5. Disinterested younger generations
6. Reduced skilled labor for installation and maintenance
7. Reduced Water levels in the Natural Reservoirs

Efforts are being made to revive this incredible traditional system of Gharat. The challenges
people face in running the gharats in modern times are analyzed. Technological interventions
with managerial solutions are worked upon to deal with the shortcomings. Thus, people will
remain wherever they are and will be able to generate sustainable livelihoods. This work is
being done in the villages around Uttarkashi, specifically in the Nakori region in Dunda. The
following section describes the methodology adopted to achieve the following objectives:

40
 1) To empower the women in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand by providing them with a
sustainable and local source of livelihood.
2) To revive gharats with technological interventions to eliminate the shortcomings
associated with traditional watermills.
3) To improve the efficiency of gharats by a marginal range keeping their sanctity
intact.
4) To innovate on the extended applications of gharats.

1. Methodology

This section discusses the primary and secondary data sources utilized to assess the current
scenario concerning the traditional watermills in the region. The discussion with the Gharat
owners and beneficiaries, along with the data available through literature and patents,
highlights the challenges and opportunities associated with the prevailing functionality of the
gharats.
1.1 Description of a Gharat

In the construction of a Gharat, water is diverted from a natural reservoir through a channel
made of mud and stones. A wooden or iron filter is installed at the beginning of the water
channel to block the passage of leaves, stones, etc., that may hinder the flow of water. The
water is then either collected in a reservoir or directly fed to the turbine below the structure of
Gharat through a slope to increase the flow rate. The Gharat is usually housed in a structure
made of entirely natural materials such as mud, stones, clay, wood, etc., which are available in
the surroundings and suitable to the landscape of the Himalayas. Two grinding stones are
placed inside the housing. The lower grinding stone is stationary, whereas the upper stone is
connected to the turbine through a shaft. As the turbine rotates, the upper grinding stone rotates
to grind the grains falling in the center through a hopper hanging above the stones. A wooden
stick connected to the hopper at one end is suspended on the upper grinding stone. As the
grinding stone rotates, the vibration induced in the wooden stick forces the grains to pour out
from the hopper. This wooden stick can also be adjusted to manage the quantity of the grains
that pour out from the hopper (Bhatt et al., 2021). There is also a mechanical arrangement to
reduce or increase the speed of the rotation of the stones and alter the distance between the
stones to obtain flour of the required consistency. All these different parts of the traditional
watermill or Gharat are known by different names in different regions. The traditional

41
watermill is cheap energy source with easy maintenance and repair (Hussain et al., 2014).

Fig. 1 Water channel from the Reservoir

Fig.2 Inside the Gharat at Gavla

42
 Fig. 3 Turbine Underneath the Gharat Structure at Gebula
2.2 Primary Data Sources
Uttarkashi is a town in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state of india. It is located at 30.730N
78.450E at an average elevation of 1,165 meters (3.822 ft). Field visits are conducted at various
villages around Uttarkashi. The sites are chosen as the gharats at these particular locations are
directly linked to the livelihood of the people. One-on-one discussions and interactions are
conducted with the owners of the gharats and the beneficiaries to get insight into the merits and
demerits associated with the traditional watermills. The technical specifications of each Gharat
and challenges faced by the gharatis are noted down for further action.

2.2.1 Visit to Nakori Village in Dunda, Uttarkashi

The owner of the Gharat at Nakori, Mr. Vijaysherwar Prasad Dangwal, is running a Gharat in
the region. This is the sole Gharat in this village; the others are dysfunctional. Mr. Dangwal is
also using this Gharat for electrification, and the system is also utilized for irrigation of a poly-
house farm nearby. Women are engaged in various activities, such as removing impurities from
grains such as ragi. Some grains grounded in this particular Gharat are wholewheat, ragi,
buckwheat, etc.
Technical Specifications of the Gharat:
Water head: 20 feet/ 6 to 7 mts
Flow-rate: 26.66 cubic. mts/min
Water supply: Taken off the free-flowing stream of a water-course, diverted using channel into
a mini water tank. The mini water tank serves as a reservoir for short time to the water coming

43
from the channel. The reservoir helps in creating the required head of the water to run the mill.
The water from the reservoir is then fed to the turbine using penstock of 12-inch PVC
pipe. A nozzle of 6 inch is then connected to the end of this pipe, creating the constriction, this
acts as a converging nozzle, hence increases the speed of the water stream.
Turbine specifications: Steel turbine which looks something like a Turgo turbine, 20 curved
bladed, making approximately 20 deg. to axis of rotation. Attached to a solid Metal shaft. Axis
of rotation is vertical.
Flour mill specifications: The flour mill is made up of two huge and thick cylindrical rocks,
one rock is stationary, and another rotatable on top. The rotatable rock is connected to the
turbine shaft at its centre, and rotates horizontally along with the turbine at 1:1 drive ratio. The
interacting surfaces are made jaggy so that the grains could enter between the two surfaces,
otherwise the grinding of the grains wouldn’t be possible.
The speed of the rotating rock was less as compared to the electric flour mills, as per the
observations the rotational speed of the Gharat is around 972 rpm (maximum). The rotating
rock has a 4 to 5-inch diameter hole where the grains are fed for grinding.
Grain feed system: the grains are stored in a hopper above the grinding rocks. The grains from
the hopper are tapped into a narrow wooden channel which ends exactly above the hole of the
rotating rock. The flow of the grains happens only if the hopper or the grain channel below the
hoper is vibrated, the vibrations for this purpose is provided by a wooden stick which hooks its
one end on the metal rod which is passing through the grain feed channel and its other end is
free to slide over the rough surface of the rotating rock. The moving rough surface underneath
the wooden stick make it to vibrate the metal pin, which eventually vibrates the grain feed
channel. The amount of vibration can be adjusted with the string that is tied up to the pin
passing through the grain feed channel by adjusting its tension.

Challenges:
1. The materials required for repairing a Gharat are unavailable in the surroundings. They
need to travel a considerable distance to obtain materials for repair. Hence, the mill
needs to be shut down for a specific period.
2. When the grinding stones need to be stopped, the operator climbs up and goes to the
water channel to put the stopper to close the channel manually. The operation needs to
be repeated when the stones are required for operation. If the stones are not stopped on
time when the grains are over, this may lead to deterioration of the stones. Also,

44
 climbing up and down from the channel is unsafe and may cause serious injury to the
operator.

Fig. 4 Water Channel and Manual Stopper at Nakori

3. The water flow keeps changing depending on the water level in the reservoir from
which the channel is built. This means that the speed of the grinding stones is not
constant. In such a situation, the operator cannot measure the quantity of grains required
to pour inside the hopper. Sometimes, the operator has to manually put the grains at the
center of the grinding stone when the water is coming at a high rate and the grinding
stones are rotating at a high speed.
4. The grinding operation spills the flour all over, making collecting it afterward difficult.
2.2.2 Visit to Gebula, Uttarkashi

The Gharat owner of the village, Mr. Budhilal, stresses the importance of technical
interventions and innovations to upgrade the gharats to meet needs in the present scenario. He
is running a Gharat with a metal turbine, replacing the wooden one. This has led to improved
output, but many more challenges hinder the function of gharats.
Technical Specifications of the Gharat:
Water head: between 15 to 20 ft.
Water supply: 12-inch PVC pipe from a short reservoir tank. The opening of the pipe in the
tank was covered by a metallic mesh to prevent debris entering the pipe.
Turbine specifications: the turbine was a steel one as per information by the owner. The
dimensions of the turbine might be the same as Gharat 1

45
Flour mill specifications: two horizontally placed heavy cylindrical rocks, one stationary and
one rotating, driven directly by the turbine shaft.
Grain feed system: metal hopper with wooden grain feed channel. And similar system as Gharat
01 to vibrate and control the feed of the grains to the mill.
Challenges:
1. No local resources are available for the maintenance of the gharats.
2. He also emphasized the fact that there is a large spill-off of the flour.
3. Low water levels make the proper functioning of the Gharat difficult.
4. The problem of climbing up to the water channel and manually putting a stopper is also
present at this location.

2.2.3 Visit to Gavla, Uttarkashi

The Gharat owner, Mr. Chandrashekhar, emphasized the technical improvements required in
the gharats to make them viable for younger generations. Locals prefer flour obtained from
modern mills due to the shortcomings associated with gharats. He understands that the flour
obtained from traditional watermills is far more nutritious and healthier than modern mills. The
lack of technological interventions and innovation is rendering these sustainable gharats
useless.
Technical Specifications of the Gharat:
Water head: 20 to 25 ft
Water supply: 12-inch PVC pipe, water is taken from a small reservoir tank.
Turbine specifications: steel turbine with similar specifications as in the Gharat 1 and 2,
Flour mill specifications: Stone was diametrically wider than that of the Gharat 1 and 2 but was
less in its thickness. Speed was around 120 rpm,
Grain feed system: was similar to that of the other two Gharats mentioned above, the only
difference was the size and shape of the stick that vibrates the grain feed channel. The stick
was thicker and shorter.

Challenges:
1. The watermill suffers from frequent shutdowns due to weather conditions such as
excessive rainfall.
2. Obtaining a proper water level also poses a problem in the operation of the gharats.

46
 3. Frequent trips to manually operate the stopper is a problem in this location too.
2.2.4 Visit to Bandarkot, Uttarkashi

Mr. Mohanlal, the owner of the Gharat at this location, uses the Gharat system for extracting
coconut oil, peanut oil, and mustard oil, in addition to grinding grains. He believes that
improvements in the Gharat are the only way to save this traditional system, which is
sustainable and eco-friendly.
Technical Specifications of the Gharat:
Water head: 20 feet
Water supply: This Gharat had the primitive way of delivering the water from reservoir tank to
the turbine. 10*12-inch steel plates were used to make an open canal which open at the tank
and extends till the turbine. This system was purely based on converting the kinetic energy of
the free-flowing water down the tank into work as there was no closed pipe to increase the
pressure in the system unlike the previous Gharats that were visited before.
Turbine specifications: steel turbine, with similar dimensions as other Gharats.
Flour mill specifications: the rock setup was similar to that of all the previously observed
Gharats. The cylindrical rock’s diameter was 26-inch, thickness was 10.5 inch and had an inner
hole of 4.5 inches. And could rotate at a speed of 130 rpm.
Grain feed system: the grain feeding system was similar with a metal hopper and wooden
channel and a stick for vibrations.
Challenges:
1. Extreme weather conditions pose a threat to these traditional watermills.
2. Using a manual stopper to start or stop the watermill damages the grinding stones
because these can rotate at a high speed even in the absence of grains.

2.2.5 Visit to Ganeshpur, Uttarkashi

The Gharat belonging to the owner, Mr. Chandra Singh Rana, was shut down due to low water
levels during the visit. He informed that the locals in this region are very interested in using
this traditional system but lacks knowledge of its operation and management.
Technical Specifications of the Gharat:
This Gharat was shut down due to low water level at the time of visit.
Water head: 10 to 15 feet., this Gharat had comparatively low water head than that of the other

47
Gharats that were previously observed.
Water supply: This Gharat also had the open channel type of water delivery system from
reservoir to the turbine. The penstock was made up of long wooden planks.
Turbine specifications: wooden turbine, the shaft was also wooden. The flat wooden planks
were made into blades attached to a thick wooden log. The blades were at some angle about 20
to 25 deg. to the axis of rotation.
Flour mill specifications: the mill was similar to that of the previously observed Gharats with
huge cylindrical rocks.
Grain feed system: the grain feeding system was similar with a metal hopper and wooden
channel and a stick for vibrations.
Challenges:
1. Lack of knowledge among locals regarding the operation and maintenance of the
gharats.
2. Excessive floods cause significant damage to the gharats, rendering them dysfunctional.
3. The water level is inappropriate to run the gharats.
2.2.6 Visit to Another Gharat at Ganeshpur, Uttarkashi

Another Gharat owner in this region is a woman named Maheshwari, whose husband had
passed away, and now his son is trying to carry forward this traditional wisdom.
Technical Specifications of the Gharat:
This Gharat was shut down due to low water level at the time of visit.
Water head: 15 to 20 feet.
Water supply: This Gharat also had the open channel type of water delivery system from
reservoir to the turbine. The penstock was made up of long steel planks.
Turbine specifications: steel turbine, the shaft was also steel. The flat steel planks were made
into blades attached to a thick steel log. The blades were at some angle about 20 to 25 deg. to
the axis of rotation.
Flour mill specifications: the mill was similar to that of the previously observed Gharats with
huge cylindrical rocks.
Grain feed system: the grain feeding system was similar with a metal hopper and wooden
channel and a stick for vibrations.
Challenges:
1. Maheshwari’s son informed about the same issue of manually operating the stopper.

48
 2. He also stated that they cannot measure the quantity of grains poured into the hopper to
match the water flow rate. If the water flow rate is high, the less grains coming out of
hopper may lead to the malfunctioning of the grinding stones. The challenges faced by
Gharat owners at various locations can be summarized in the table 3.

Table 3. Challenges Faced in Operating Gharats at Selected Locations

S.No. Location Challenges
1. Nakori • Lack of local resources for repairing the gharats
• Operating the stopper at the water channel
manually to stop or start the mill
• Inability to measure the quantity of grains
according to the water flow rate
• Inability to control the flour spill-off
2. Gebula • Lack of local resources for repairing the gharats
• Operating the stopper at the water channel
manually to stop or start the mill
• Inability to control the flour spill-off
• Lower water levels
3. Gavla • Excessive floods lead to mill shutdown
• Operating the stopper at the water channel
manually to stop or start the mill
• Lower water levels
4. Bandarkot • Extreme weather conditions, such as excessive
floods leading to mill shutdown
• Operating the stopper at the water channel
manually to stop or start the mill
5. Ganeshpur • Lack of knowledge among the locals to run and
maintain the gharats
• Excessive floods damage gharats
• Lower water levels
• Operating the stopper at the water channel
manually to stop or start the mill

49
 • Inability to measure the quantity of grains
according to the water flow rate

The challenges faced by gharatis at different locations can be represented in a pie chart as
follows. It can be seen from the pie chart that the major challenge is that the operator has to
make frequent trips to the water channel to close or open it. This leads to the wastage of time,
which leads to reduced utilization of resources, also poses a threat to the owner's safety, and
can damage the grinding stones.
Next, insufficient water levels and extreme weather conditions also affect the operation of the
gharats. As mentioned earlier, insufficient water levels are partially due to hydel power projects
being installed in the Himalayas, which disturb the natural flow of water and divert their routes.
Also, the loss of traditional water harvesting systems in the hilly ranges of Uttarakhand such
as Naula, Dhara, Gadhera, Gul, Chal and Khal, is also leading to reduced water levels.

Challenges

0.42
Manual Stopper
0.71
Inability to measure quantity
Extreme weather conditions
0.28
Lack of local resources for repair
Inability to control the flour spill-off
Lower water levels
0.28 0.28
Lack of knowledge

0.42

Fig. 5 Pie Chart Depicting Challenges Faced in the Operation of Gharats at Selected
Locations
Exploiting natural resources and useless activities such as mining in the Himalayas are the
leading causes of natural disasters such as floods. The need of the hour is to avoid activities
detrimental to the fragile geography of the Himalayas.
The inability to measure the quantity of flour to be poured for grinding leads to disturbance in
the working of the Gharat. The water flow rate needs to be consistent, leading to grinding stones
rotating at high speeds at certain times. In such situations, the owner needs to manually put the

50
grains into the center of the upper grinding stone to prevent any damage to the grinding stones
due to high speed.
The flour spill-off is a problem as sufficient time is lost in collecting the flour, leading to a loss
of manhours. The locals need to be trained to maintain and repair the gharats. Also, the raw
materials used in the Gharat systems should be such that the owners need not travel huge
distances to obtain them.
2.2.7 Third Visit to Nakori in Dunda, Uttarkashi

Keeping in view the challenges faced by gharatis at different villages, third visit was conducted
at the Gharat in Nakori village, which is our principal site, to collect some technical data which
is as follows:
Reservoirs level and RPM:
Water level low – 468 RPM (Minimum)
Water level medium – 647 RPM (Medium)
Water level high – 972 RPM (Maximum)
Reservoir Dimensions and Calculations:
Side Length
1st – 3.8m
2nd - 4m
Breadth
1st – 3m
2nd – 1m
Depth - 1m
Area of reservoir – 7.8m2 (approx.)
Volume of reservoir – 7.8m3 (approx.)
Distance Gharat to Stopper 50m (approx.):
Pipe:
Length of pipe between Gharat turbine and Reservoir – 11m (approx.)
Diameter of pipe – 0.22m
Area of pipe – 0.0387m2
Volume of pipe – 0.425m3
Grinding stone(both):
Grinding stone diameter – 0.8m
Thickness of Stone – 0.3m
This data will be used while designing prototype for proposed solutions.

2.3 Secondary Data Sources

In this section, the data is reviewed from the literature available on the work done to improve
and revive the gharats. Also, the patents' information sheds more light on the efforts made to
study and rejuvenate this traditional wisdom. These data sources put emphasis on the
importance, a Gharat holds for the economy of the Himalayan regions.

51
2.3.1 Literature
The upgrade efforts at Ganeshpur and Bon villages in Uttarkashi led to the replacement of an
open wooden channel with a PVC pipe and a spear valve. The wooden turbine is replaced by
steel casting and ball bearings. This resulted in an increase in Gharat's efficiency by 40-50%.
Also, a new house with more storage capacity and space to work is constructed. At the same
locations, gharats are upgraded for electrification purposes. In such cases, the wooden turbine
is replaced with a cross-flow turbine. Thus, the same Gharat can be used for electrification
when the turbine is connected to an alternator and for grinding and other purposes when
connected directly. The operation and maintenance of gharats at these locations can be done
using local labor and resources (Kothari et al., n.d.).
In a project undertaken at Kamand Valley in Mandi, it is proposed that wooden turbines should
be replaced with metal ones to increase the output. At the places where water levels were
insufficient for the operation of gharats, diversions of water channels are suggested. Also, the
use of gharats for electrification purposes is also suggested (Leiro et al., 2015). Chuskor in
Arunachal Pradesh is also suggested to improve the Gharat output by increasing the water
channel gradient and by replacing the materials of turbine and grinding stones (Tsering et al.,
2015).
In Ladakh, where the Gharat is known as Rantak, due to freezing temperatures, the Rantak
becomes dysfunctional. Improvements are required to operate the gharats throughout the year
(Hussain et al., 2014). In the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, improvements are made in
traditional watermills for grinding purposes and other multipurpose uses, such as
electrification, etc., to improve livelihood (Agarwal, n.d.).
A study conducted in Kherola village near Bhimtal in Nainital district of Uttaranchal upgraded
gharats for grinding to provide increased output and also to provide electricity to the remote
villages (Behari & Bhardwaj, 2014). The gharats are also upgraded for milling and
electrification for the communities residing in buffer zone of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve
(NDBR). In this case too, the open wooden channel is replaced with PVS pipe and spear valve.
The wooden runner is replaced by metallic turbine. These modifications increased the
efficiency of the traditional watermills by 30-40%. For electrification, the metal turbine is
replaced with cross-flow turbine and connected to an alternator (R. C. Sharma et al., 2008).

2.3.2 Patents
Patent/Publication: IN201202598IE

52
 A portable watermill is developed which uses belt pulley to convert the energy of flowing water
current velocity into mechanical energy to operate the grinding stone. This utilizes the principle
of traditional watermill but can be used without natural flow and head of water. Thus can be
used in plains as well as hilly areas.
Patent/Publication: IN201202599IE
A portable watermill (portable Gharat) is developed by Mr. Mangal Singh which utilizes the
principle of a traditional Gharat. There is no requirement for natural fall and flow of water. The
velocity of water from a pump is converted to mechanical energy, which is further used to
operate a flour mill. This can be useful in hilly areas where traditional watermills get destroyed
to floods. This portable watermill can also be used for electrification.
The patent information is summarized in the table 4. Only these two patents exist on the
traditional system of watermills or gharats.
Table 4: Patents Based on the Principle of Gharats
Publication
S.No. Patent Assignee Title Comments
Date
1. IN201202598IE Mangal Bhairan Less 2016-08-12 The assignee accepts the fact that
Singh Gharat traditional watermills are
Mangal Turbine sustainable and eco-friendly
Cum Gharat source of energy
(Traditional
Watermill)
2. IN201202599IE Mangal Portable Gharat 2016-08-12 Some points relevant to
Singh (Portable traditional water mill are:
Watermill) • They are cheap
• Easy to operate and
maintain
• Clean source of energy

2.4 Rationale of the Study

The purpose of field visits to different villages around Uttarkashi was to gather vital
information from gharatis and beneficiaries about their experience of working with this
traditional system of Gharat. This information gives the glimpse of how the traditional
watermills are the central part of people’s lives of these regions. These gharats have the

53
potential to bring about a revolution in the hill economy. It is noted during the field visits to
these villages that the operators of these gharats are mainly men and women, ages of above 50,
with a single exception at Ganeshpur, where Mrs. Maheswari’s son is making efforts to operate
the gharats. Also, the visits were conducted to the places where gharats are functional but at
these regions too, there were many dysfunctional gharats. This proves that younger generation
is not interested in carrying forward this traditional knowledge. Traditional never means that
this knowledge is not scientific. It is completely based on the wisdom of the ancient men who
lived in harmony with nature.
The lack of technical assistance and technological interventions required in the revival of these
traditional watermills are forcing the locals to shut down gharats and migrate to lower valleys,
cities and towns for more opportunities. The people still using these gharats are preserving our
precious culture and knowledge. The efforts are made through this work to help these people
to stay wherever they are and generate sustainable livelihoods. Nothing should force these
people to leave their homelands and migrate just because they are not able to generate
livelihood in the hilly regions.
The information received through literature highlights the efforts made to revive these
traditional watermills not only for grinding purposes but also for other multifarious uses which
help to supplement the income of the owners of the gharats. The technical assistance is being
provided by various technical and social institutions of the country. These technological
interventions encourage the locals to take up these professions all over again which provide
them with sustainable livelihoods in the lap of mother nature.
Also, the information is received through the literature and patents regarding various aspects
of these traditional system which are still untouched and pose great challenge to the operators
and beneficiaries. Innovations are required in these areas to help increase the performance of
the gharats and to link more number of beneficiaries to this system. The world is now moving
towards sustainability and renewable resources. If with some technical interventions, these
traditional systems can be revived, it will prove to be extremely beneficial to the residents of
the Himalayan regions.
3 Findings

The information received through field visits, literature and patents can be summarized as
follows:
1. The major challenge faced by the gharatis is that the operator needs to climb up and
down the water channel frequently to manually put and lift the stopper to start or stop

54
 a Gharat. From the point of view of operator, it is extremely unsafe and can cause
injury. With regard to the Gharat, in the absence of grains, if the water channel is not
blocked on time, it can damage the grinding stones. Also, the precious manhours are
lost, as a lot of time gets wasted in starting and stopping the Gharat.
2. The operator of a traditional watermill is not able to manage the quantity of grains that
fall from the hopper into the grinding stone. Sometimes, due to high flow rate of water,
the grinding stones are rotating at high speed, forcing the operator to manually put the
grains into the grinding stone.
3. The spill-off is another issue as it becomes difficult to collect the grounded flour as it
gets spread all over.
4. The operator is not able to find the materials locally for repair if any part of the Gharat
is not wrking properly. The Gharat has to be shut down as the gharati needs to travel
huge distance to find the material for repair.
5. The issues of manual stopper, controlling the quantity of grains in hopper and spill-off
are not addressed either through literature or patents.

4. Working Conclusion

Based on the findings from Section 3. of findings, the following solutions are proposed:
1. Using the principle of operation of dams, a system has to designed such that the stopper
on the water channel to stop or start the Gharat can be operated from within the Gharat
so that the operator need not make frequent trips to the water channel. This will save
the time of the gharati. That much time can be utilized in the operation of the Gharat.
Also, a bypass can be created along with the channel that goes to the turbine so that
when not in operation, the water just flows out to the reservoir.
2. A hopper needs to be designed in a way that the operator can change the quantity of
grains that fall from the hopper for grinding according to the flow rate of the water
available.
3. A container-like structure can be constructed around the grinding stones to reduce the
spill-off so that the flour can be easily collected after grinding.
4. All these proposals are to be fulfilled using locally available materials so that repair and
maintenance can be managed easily.

55
The findings, the proposed solutions and expected outcomes if such solutions are successful
can be summarized in the following table 5.
Table 5. Findings, Proposed Solution and Expected Outcome
S.No. Finding Proposed Solution Expected Outcome
1. Issue of manually Principles of dams to It will save the
climbing up and down the operate the stopper from the manhours and prevent
water channel by the Gharat itself wastage of time. Also,
gharati to operate the it will be safer for the
stopper operator.
2. Inability to manage the Designing a hopper that More efficient
quantity of grains will manage the quantity of operation of the gharat
according to the water grains according to
flow rate minimum, medium and
maximum water level as
mentioned in section 2.2.6
3. Flour spill-off during A container-like structure No wastage of flour
grinding to be constructed around
the grinding stones to
effectively collect the
grounded flour
4. Unavailability of Using locally available The Gharat can be
materials locally for material for proposed operated with less
repair solutions downtime

A prototype of the Gharat is being designed at IIT Roorkee labs to test the effectiveness of the
proposed solutions. Rough sketch of the prototype is shown in fig. 6. The proposed solutions
can directly affect the people connected with the gharats as it can improve the efficiency and
effectiveness of the gharats which improves the income of the owners and beneficiaries. Thus,
a sustainable livelihood can be generated for the locals.

56
 Fig. 6: Prototype of the Gharat being Designed
5. Policy Recommendations
The indigenous watermills or gharats represent rich heritage of the people residing in the
Himalayan territories. This traditional wisdom needs to be preserved and nurtured for the future
generations. Such traditional knowledge systems can provide the locals with a sustainable
livelihood and help in preserving the ecosystem of the Himalayas. The initiatives such as Make
in India are promoting these traditional knowledge systems with the slogan of ‘Vocal for
Local.’ The efforts made to revive these traditional knowledge systems of India should receive
full support from the government. Also, the technological interventions and innovations being
improvised in this direction should be promoted to encourage initiatives being made in these
areas. Government assistance is very much required to revive and preserve these traditional
knowledge systems. This will help in creating livelihoods for the people residing in the hilly
regions and they will not be forced to migrate to lower valleys, cities or towns in search of a
livelihood.
Acknowledgement
This project is being undertaken with the financial support of Indian Council of Social Science
Research (ICSSR). The entire project team, including PI and Co-PI are extremely thankful to
the funding agency for their kind assistance.
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Objectives:
• To empower the women in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand by providing them with a
sustainable and local source of livelihood.
• To revive Gharat with technological interventions to eliminate the shortcomings
associated with traditional watermills.

59
 • To improve the efficiency of Gharat by a marginal range keeping their sanctity intact.
• To innovate on the extended applications of Gharat.

Methodology:

The project's objective is to enhance the livelihoods of women through the revitalization of
traditional watermills, known as Gharat, and associated applications in the hilly regions of
Uttarakhand. To achieve this, our team has carefully selected specific Gharat where a
significant portion of the population relies on these watermills. Additionally, we have
prioritized locations with good road connectivity to ensure easy access to the Gharat,
minimizing any inconvenience for the local residents.
Our approach involves engaging with the community by meeting with people who depend on
these Gharat. During these interactions, we assess the efficiency of the Gharat in terms of grain
grinding and their ability to cover associated costs. Moreover, we have actively sought input
from the local residents, conducting interviews and administering a questionnaire to gain
insights into their challenges and perspectives regarding the Gharat.
Following the collection of data, we conducted a thorough analysis of the questionnaire
responses. This analysis has provided valuable information on the current state of the Gharat
and has helped us identify potential areas for improvement. Based on these findings, we aim to
implement changes and enhancements to the Gharat to address the specific needs and
challenges faced by the local community. Our ultimate goal is to introduce modifications that
will not only increase the efficiency of the Gharat but also enhance the overall well-being and
convenience of the residents in the target regions.

Livelihood Associated with Gharat

The association of livelihood with Gharat stems from the fact that residents in mountainous
regions favor flour produced in these traditional watermills. This preference is rooted in the
nutritional benefits derived from the milling process conducted in Gharat. The flour obtained
through this method is renowned for its high nutritional value, containing essential elements
that contribute to a wholesome diet.
Additionally, the economic aspect plays a crucial role in this association. Gharat-produced
flour is not only nutritionally superior but also economically advantageous for the local
population. The cost-effectiveness of obtaining flour from Gharat makes it a preferred choice
among residents, aligning with their economic considerations and affordability.
Therefore, the reliance on Gharat for livelihood is a multifaceted connection, encompassing
nutritional preferences, cultural practices, and economic considerations. The nutritional
richness of the flour and its affordability make gharats a vital component of the local livelihood,
illustrating the intricate interplay between traditional practices, dietary choices, and economic
factors in these hilly regions.

60
Common Barriers identified at field site in all Gharat system.

1. The initial issue arises upon reaching maximum water storage capacity, wherein the
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) of the rotating stone attains its peak. Consequently, the
dispensation of grain from the hopper is impeded. Due to the lightweight nature of the
wooden block, it experiences momentary suspension upon collision with the stone at
elevated RPM.

2. Upon accomplishing the grinding operation, the stopper is required to be situated

approximately 50 meters above the watermill to divert the water flow back towards the
river. This necessitates the operator to repeatedly ascend and descend. The ascent
involves navigating a structurally deficient incline, thereby presenting a potential
hazard for accidents. Furthermore, the inadequacy of the pathway raises apprehensions
regarding safety.

3. An additional concern raised pertains to the challenge of precisely quantifying the input
of grains and pulses into the gharat for the grinding process. Inadequate input leads to
an augmented operational velocity, potentially resulting in machinery malfunction.
Conversely, excessive input complicates the procedure, hindering the precise
determination of the quantity of grains undergoing processing.

3.5 Deliverable:

Measures Taken so Far:

R&D and Design:

After field visit our team encounter common barrier which we are discussed in details about
hopper and stopper system in Gharat. For solving this problem our team began working on
designing hopper and stopper system, in order to achieve our objective. Our team select and
conducted IIIrd visit to Nakori Village Gharat site for collecting the technical data, which is
use in designing and R&D.

Reservoirs level and RPM:

Water level low – 468 RPM (Minimum)

Water level medium – 647 RPM (Medium)
Water level high – 972 RPM (Maximum)

Reservoir Dimensions and Calculations:

Side Length
1st – 3.8m
2nd - 4m
Breadth
1st – 3m
2nd – 1m

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Depth - 1m
Area of reservoir – 7.8m2 (approx.)
Volume of reservoir – 7.8m3 (approx.)
Distance Gharat to Stopper 50m (approx.):
Pipe:
Length of pipe between Gharat turbine and Reservoir – 11m (approx.)
Diameter of pipe – 0.22m
Area of pipe – 0.0387m2
Volume of pipe – 0.425m3
Grinding stone(both):
Grinding stone diameter – 0.8m
Thickness of Stone – 0.3m

Plan Towards Completion:

The theme “Make in India” is an initiative that promotes “vocal for local.” Gharat, or a
traditional watermill, is an indigenous asset of the people residing on the terrains of the
Himalayas. Due to industrialization and modernization, this traditional system is becoming
obsolete. The reason for this is the lack of technological interventions and innovations to help
people operating gharats deal with the challenges related to gharats. As mentioned earlier,
gharats are suitable for the vulnerable nature of the Himalayas. Modern mills are non-
sustainable and polluting for the environment. The challenges faced by gharatis are forcing the
locals to shut down the gharats and migrate to cities and towns for more opportunities as they
cannot generate income from the gharats as they did earlier. The efforts made during this
project and many other initiatives taken before, as mentioned earlier are meant to revive and
upgrade gharats to match the expectations of the present operators. These efforts can provide
them with a sustainable livelihood. They can stay wherever they are without any need to
migrate to look for jobs. If the proposed solutions are implemented successfully, it will prevent
wasting precious manhours spent doing some peculiar things. This will directly affect the
output obtained from the gharats and will result in improved efficiency. This improvement in
the Gharat's efficiency will help provide sustainable and sustained livelihoods. The proposed
solutions will be tested through prototypes and implemented at the selected locations. The data
will then be collected regarding changes in the output. More beneficiaries will be associated
with a Gharat after implementing the proposed solutions.

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 Expenditure Information
477 Ref. File No. F.no. 151/CIS-2023-147/Milind/SCD

Audited Statement of Accounts (AC) (Oct 1st, 2023 to Dec. 10th 2023)
1. Title of the Project: Transforming Women Livelihood Through Revival Of Gharats
Watermills And Associated Applications In The Hilly Regions Of Uttarakhand
2. Name of the Project Director: DR. VINAY SHARMA

S.No. Heads of Expenditure Percentage Actual Actual Unspent

Allocation to Total Value as Expenditure balance
(A) Budget of per the return to
the Study study the
(Amount ICSSR
received in
first
Installmen
t)
1 Research Staff: Full Not exceeding 40% 240000/- 46,600/-
time/Part-time/Hired of the total budget. (120000/-)
Services
2 Fieldwork: Not 30% 180000/- 64000/-
Travel/Logistics/Boardi exceeding (90000/-)
ng, etc. including
Books/Journals
3 Workshop to disseminate Up to 15% (not 90000/- 0
the outcomes of the exceeding INR 2.00 (45000/-)
project lakh for
collaborative
research
4 Equipment and Other Not 10% 60000/- 38000/-
Items: computer, printer exceeding (30000/-)
etc / Source
Material/Software and
Data Sets, etc.
5 Contingency Not exceeding 5% 30000/- 4000/-
TOTAL 100% 600000/- 1,52,600/- NIL
(3,00,000)

(B) Heads of Percentage Allocation

Expenditure
to Total Budget of
the Study
Institutional Affiliating Institutional NIL NIL NIL
Overheads (over and overheads 7.5% or
above the total cost of Rs. 1.00 Lakh, whichever
the project) is less, as the case may be

63
*The five percent (5%) publication amount will be retained by the ICSSR & will
be spent by the ICSSR Publication Division if the Final report is found
publishable by an Expert Committee constituted by the ICSSR.
Note: The Project Director will ensure that the expenditure incurred by him
conforms to the approved budget heads. Audited Statement of accounts with
Utilization Certificate in GFR of 12A form is for the entire project amount
approved for the project.

Registrar/Principal/Director Project Director

(Signature with Rubber Stamp) (Signature with Rubber Stamp)

Certified by the C.A.

(Signature with Rubber Stamp)

Note: The Details mentioned in the UC are till Dec. 20, 2023. The Expenditures that are
due in in the Month of December or in the process are as follows:
Salary: 52000/- (Includes the salary of RA and the field Assistant)
Fieldwork: 30000/-
Workshop: 45000/-
Contingency: 10000/-
Total: 137000/-

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