Thirty years ago, Dhansingh Majhi of Dhinglamunda village, Sinapali block, Nuapada district, struggled for survival, relying on mango kernels and wild roots for food. Living in a fragile mud-thatched hut, his family lacked basic necessities.

Today, at 47, Dhansingh has transformed his life through determination and government support. His turning point came in 1993 when he received INR 13,000 from the Horticulture Department to build a dug-well, supplemented by an NGO exposure visit to Maharashtra. He began commercial cultivation of vegetables and fruits, supplementing income through MGNREGS work during non-farming days.

Subsequent government interventions accelerated his progress: INR 50,000 for land development, INR 1.3 lakh for a pucca house, INR 1.3 lakh for a cowshed, INR 2.5 lakh for a multipurpose pond, 22 mango saplings, KALIA scheme assistance, BPL gas and electricity connections, and support from OLM for a nutrition garden.

Today, Dhansingh earns INR 70,000 annually from organic paddy, INR 50,000 from onions, INR 45,000 from vegetables, INR 30,000 from fish, INR 36,000 from ghee, and INR 50,000 from poultry. NREGS adds another INR 30,000. His assets include a pucca house, 4.5 acres of land, a bike, water pumps, and modern household gadgets.

He actively participates in Gram Sabha and shares his expertise with others. With aspirations to expand agriculture, add goat farming, and support his son’s ambitions, Dhansingh embodies the transformative power of government support combined with perseverance, rising from extreme poverty to an agri-preneurial success.