Santosh’s Fortune Transformed through Pond Construction under MGNREGA

Relief from hardships, pond becomes the key to success

Raipur, Sept 2025 : In Khaiya village of Baloda block, Janjgir-Champa district, a pond (small water body) was constructed on the private land of farmer Shri Santosh Kumar/Baburam at a cost of about ₹2.92 lakh under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). This project not only generated 552 person-days of employment but also directly benefitted 13 families in the village. Simultaneously, activities under the “Mor Gaon Mor Pani” (My Village, My Water) campaign are being continuously implemented across the district.

Shri Santosh Kumar Patle recalls that earlier he used to rear ducks. Since there was no pond, he would dig a small pit and keep ducks there. Before the construction of the private pond, Santosh faced many difficulties because water was not available year-round in his fields. One day, he learned from a Rozgar Sahayak (employment assistant) about the benefits of constructing a private pond for water conservation. He submitted an application with the required documents in the Gram Sabha. Once the proposal was passed, the technical plan was prepared and sent to the district panchayat through the Janpad Panchayat for administrative approval.

Santosh’s life changed when his proposal was sanctioned, and ₹2.92 lakh was approved for the construction of the pond in his field. Thereafter, job card-holding families under MGNREGA together constructed Santosh’s pond. With this, his fortunes began to change—he restarted duck rearing and has now taken up fish farming. Today, he earns an additional ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 annually from fish production in the pond. Irrigation for his fields has become easier, resulting in increased production of paddy and other crops. The pond also ensures adequate water availability for his cattle.

Shri Santosh Kumar Patle says, “The MGNREGA scheme has changed my life. Earlier, there was always a water problem in the fields and income was limited. But now, thanks to the pond, farming has become easier. With fish farming and irrigation, my income has increased significantly.”

The Sarpanch and employment assistant of Khaiya Gram Panchayat noted that pond construction has given new direction to agriculture, fish farming, and animal husbandry in the village. It has not only improved the economic condition of farmers but has also demonstrated the true effectiveness of the MGNREGA scheme in every village. The construction of a single pond under MGNREGA shows how it can transform the livelihood of both farmers and the entire village, becoming a sustainable source of income.