In winter, the villagers huddle over smouldering straw fires, warming pots of tea. For all their benefits, the pumps are not without problems. True, villagers say the Mark II is more effective than the last government innovation, a biogas stove that came without assembly directions. But the residents have been slow to adopt the rhythmic pumping strokes that prevent the machines from breaking. They do it their own way.
Many women also continue to draw water from the open wells, some by habit, others for convenience.
The decision was up to the chief. One of the four pumps was installed in front of the chief's house. We are still poor. Suresh Chandra Nayak, the water authority's local executive engineer, says there was little point in consulting the village women, even though they use the wells and the pumps much more than men do. Every woman would want one in front of her own house.