Raipur, April 16, 2026/
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has emerged as an effective medium for rural development. This scheme is not only limited to providing employment but is also playing a vital role in making rural families self-reliant through the creation of permanent assets. A living example of this is the inspiring success story of Sagunoo Ram, a resident of village Kalarbahra in the Aroud Duban area.
Sagunoo Ram comes from a small farmer family. Due to limited land and rain-fed agriculture, his income used to be unstable. Lack of irrigation facilities meant he could cultivate only one crop a year, which kept the family’s economic condition weak.
The situation changed when he learned about the MGNREGA scheme through the Gram Panchayat. In 2023-24, he applied for the construction of a 25×25 meter pond on his land, which was approved. This pond, built at a cost of approximately Rs 2.98 lakh, provided a permanent water source on his farm.
After the construction of the pond, his farming saw a remarkable transformation. He is now able to irrigate regularly, which has increased both the production and quality of paddy cultivation on 2 acres. Along with this, with the support of the Agriculture Department, he started cultivating Madia (Ragi) on 1.5 acres, which generated an additional income of about Rs 60,000.
Sagunoo Ram also utilized the pond for fish farming, which started generating an additional income of about Rs 30,000. In this way, by integrating water conservation, multi-crop farming, and fish farming, he has developed a strong and sustainable livelihood model.
He has also adopted modern agricultural practices—such as crop rotation, use of organic fertilizers, and better water management techniques—which have increased production while reducing costs. In the future, he plans to adopt vegetable production and drip irrigation technology.
Today, Sagunoo Ram has not only become economically empowered but has also become an inspiration for other farmers in the village. Inspired by his success, other villagers are also moving towards pond construction and advanced agricultural activities under MGNREGA.
The success has been due to the coordinated efforts of the Gram Panchayat, the MGNREGA scheme, and the Agriculture Department. Timely guidance and support have brought about a positive change in Sagunoo Ram’s life.
Sagunoo Ram’s story proves that the right use of schemes and hard work combined with innovation can open the path to self-reliance even with limited resources. This is a powerful message of hope, inspiration, and development for rural India.
