Raipur, October 7, 2025/Dular Singh of Baheradih village in Janjgir-Champa district has become a living example of the increase in farming and animal husbandry through the construction of a pond on his field. Dular Singh also got this pond constructed through the MGNREGA scheme. Agriculture and animal husbandry have always been the basis of rural life, but water is the soul of both these activities. If the water system is strengthened, the rural economy itself becomes empowered. Mr. Dular Singh has realized this thought.
Before the construction of the pond, Mr. Dular Singh used to face water scarcity for irrigating his fields, due to which he could only grow limited crops. Besides, he always felt a lack of water for duck farming, fish farming, and irrigating paddy fields. In such a situation, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA), pond construction work was approved on Mr. Dular Singh’s field in Gram Panchayat Jata. Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, farmer Mr. Dular Singh of Gram Jata got pond construction work done on his private land. An administrative amount of 2.14 lakh was sanctioned for this work, which started and was completed in June 2024. The creation of a total of 380 man-days generated a wage of 92,577 for 37 labor families. This not only created employment but also increased water conservation and agricultural production. Now, with the accumulation of rainwater in the pond, irrigation of fields is being done smoothly throughout the year. Along with this, he started fish farming and animal husbandry, which also became a source of additional income.
Mr. Dular Singh states that due to the pond construction under the MGNREGA scheme, his fields are now irrigated. This allows him to grow vegetables on the bunds along with paddy. Rohu and Pangas fish seeds weighing 2 kg have been put into the pond. After the fish grow to 1 kg in the coming month, they will be sold in the market, generating income. Mr. Dular Singh has cultivated turmeric and sesame crops along the bund of his constructed pond, which he will use for his household needs. Household income has increased significantly due to fish farming and animal husbandry. The Gram Panchayat Sarpanch and Employment Assistant mentioned that this work has inspired other farmers in the village. Villagers are now coming forward to build water conservation structures on their land. This pond construction work has not only created a basis for sustainable livelihood in Mr. Dular Singh’s life but has also become an excellent example of creating durable assets along with employment, which is the objective of MGNREGA.