Tales of Prosperity of the Beneficiaries: Amravati

After willingly consenting to giving their land for the Samruddhi Project, the various landowners from 10 districts executed their land deals with the MSRDC. Once the landowners received the compensation amount from the direct purchase scheme in their respective bank accounts through RTGS, how and where is the money is now being utilized? This is a brief review of such “Samruddha” stories – meaning “Tales of Prosperity” of some of the beneficiaries in Amravati.

One of the many beneficiaries of the Samruddhi Project is one landowner, Ashok Chakradhare of Nimgavhan village in Chandur Railway taluka in Amravati district. 5 acres out of a total of 8 acres of his land was purchased for the Mahamarg project. He had been using the land for farming for the past many years. He had to leave his schooling midway. Since he had not completed his education, the future was a little uncertain. He started toiling in the farm. He started learning about the intricacies of farming while on the field.

He started understanding the process of farming. He started putting together the wages that he would earn while he worked as a labourer, and finally in the year 2007 he took the leap and brought a farmland near his village. He also constructed a temporary dwelling. He started growing Soybean, Gram, Wheat, Tur Dal etc. in his farm. He had been allotted a well through a government scheme. His family includes him, his wife and their three children. His annual earning through farming was around ₹ 2-2.5 lakh. His children were growing up and the family would need money for their higher education. Although he had progressed from being a farm labourer to a farm owner, he still had to indulge in borrowing money as and when required. Which is why when the idea of the Samruddhi Mahamarg was floated, he instantly agreed to give up his land for the scheme. However, he was unsure of the price that his land would fetch, and that was a cause of concern to him. But all his concerns were put to rest once he realized that the compensation amount is satisfactory. Ashok ji has purchased an orange orchard admeasuring 4 acres and 8 guntas in Mauje Jaware Shivar, located near his village. There are 200 trees in this orchard. He has no plans to buy the orchard when he received the compensation amount. However, he saw the land and decided to go through with the deal. There is a farmland admeasuring 4 acres, connected to the orchard. Ashok ji is thinking of buying the land too, and is currently negotiating the deal.

Ashok ji’s earlier house had become very old. He thought of utilizing the money received from the Samruddhi Project to construct a new house and he also put this thought into action. He says he has also constructed a permanent house for his father. There are many such farmers in the village that have benefitted from the Samruddhi Project. The compensation money being received from the Samruddhi Project has truly brought prosperity in the village, according to Ashok ji. Similarly, his observation is that the Samruddhi Project has resulted in a steep rise in the prices of farmlands around the village.

Just like Ashok Chakradhare, 1.67 hectares and 9 acres of land in Amravati district, belonging to Pramod Pahade and Praful Nakhate respectively, will be used in the Samruddhi Mahamarg Project, for which they have received good compensation. Likewise, thousands of beneficiaries from the rest of the districts are looking forward to a brighter future because the Samruddhi Mahamarg Project. Click on the link below to view the life changing stories of the beneficiaries from Amravati district.