Tales of Prosperity of the Beneficiaries: Buldhana Part 2

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 the second and final part of a two-part series of some “Samruddha” stories – meaning “Tales of Prosperity” of some of the beneficiaries in Buldhana.

Gajanan Thorat of Chaygaon village in Mehkar taluka and Shivaji Mundhe of Tadhegaon village in Sindkhed Raja taluka in Buldhana district are among the many beneficiaries of the Samruddhi Project.

Gajanan Thorat owned an ancestral piece of farmland admeasuring 2.75 acres. His family consists of him, his wife and their two children. He would primarily cultivate soybean, gram and wheat crops. Initially, Thorat was shaken when he came to know that his land would have to be given up for the Samruddhi Mahamarg project. 71 ares of his land has been utilized in the highway project. He was immensely relieved when he found out that he would be getting a good compensation amount for his land. Earlier, an annual income of around ₹ 2.5 lacs from farming activities wasn’t sufficiently providing for the household, and he would have to work as a labourer for other farmers. So, whenever there was no work to be done on his farmland, he would work for others. However, after receiving the compensation amount from the land deal, all of Gajananrao’s worries have now disappeared.

As soon as he received the compensation amount, he purchased a piece of land admeasuring 1 acre near his village. He mentions that the purchase deal is yet to be completed, and the requisite amount has been kept aside in the bank. He also says that he wants to dig a well in the new piece of land. He says that the surrounding area is heading towards development due to the Samruddhi Mahamarg, and since the highway is passing through his farm, there would be ample scope in the future for him to seek opportunities for his personal development. He believes that he will no longer have to work as a labourer for other farmers.

Shivaji Mundhe has a story similar to that of Gajanan Thorat. Like many others, Shivaji Mundhe owned a piece of farmland in Tadhegaon village, a little distance away from Sindkhed Raja taluka. The financial situation at home was inadequate. By cultivating vegetables in a land admeasuring approximately 2-2.25 acres, Shivaji would provide for the livelihood for his family of six which included himself, his wife, his parents and two children. It was routine business for the family to cultivate vegetables in the farm and sell the yield in the village market. The income received out of it was nominal. However, his life changed after 61 ares of his land was purchased for the Samruddhi Mahamarg project. Post the direct purchase of land, the compensation amount has been deposited in his bank account. Shivaji has utilized this amount to purchase a land admeasuring about 9.5 acres situated in Dhotra Gandhi, at a distance of about 20 km away from his village. Along with vegetables, Shivaji plans to cultivate soybean and cotton plants in this farmland. He plans to construct a house in the future in order to be able to take care of the farming in his new piece of land situated 20 km away from his village.

Shivaji’s newly purchased farmland admeasuring 9.5 acres has a pond in it. Besides, the dam is close to the piece of land and can be used for water supply for the farm. Shivaji hopes that this will ensure that there would be no shortage of water. Shivaji tells us that Deulgaon is the perfect location to look after the children’s education as well as farming.

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 Buldhana district.