Financial benefits bring smile on the faces of hard working forest dwellers of Vananchal

Raipur : For the traditional tribal farmers who have been living a difficult life on forest land for years, their own land has now become a powerful medium for economic progress. The barren and uneven land obtained under the Forest Rights Certificate has been converted into fertile fields with the help of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA).

Two years ago, a total of 17 forest dwelling families in Gram Panchayat Natwahi of District Panchayat Sonhat and its dependent villages Chuladar and Kurthi under the forest area of ​​Koriya district were given land lease under the Forest Rights Certificate Scheme of the government. But the land was not suitable for cultivation due to it being uneven and rocky, due to which the farmers were not getting any special economic benefits.

Path to development found through MNREGA
In order to make the forest rights land useful, land leveling and bund dam work was included in the Gram Panchayat development action plan by the Gram Panchayat. After technical testing, separate proposals were prepared for each farmer. An amount of Rs 19 lakh 51 thousand 346 was sanctioned under MNREGA for the improvement of a total of 11.06 hectares of land. By making Gram Panchayat the work agency, this work was successfully completed by generating 6,744 man days.

Prosperity grown in flat fields
After completion of land reform work, these farmers adopted paddy as their main crop in Kharif season. Besides, cultivation of crops like wheat, maize and peas was also started. As a result of favorable rainfall, these 17 farmers produced more than 300 quintals of paddy and maize this year.

The total number of beneficiaries is 17, total land reclamation area is 11.06 hectares, total production is 319 quintals, sanctioned amount is 19,51,346 and man days generated are 6,744. This production is not only strengthening the economic condition of the farmers, but is also awakening new hope for a secure future in their lives. Today, hard-earned money is visible in the accounts of these forest dwelling families and a satisfying smile of self-reliance is visible on their faces.