Expectations soar in Modi's adopted village

In Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s adopted village, things are not as rosy as they are made out to be.

Sukhu, a 45-year-old brick kiln worker, was expecting a home under the Centre’s rural housing scheme, but his dream is yet to be fulfilled.

Shiv Prakash, 28, has completed his high-school and spends most of his time doing odd jobs and rests at the bus shelters built after Modi adopted Jayapur, about 30 km from Varanasi, under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).

Despite the number of youth-centric schemes launched by the Modi government, Prakash has heard none of it, not even the much-publicised Mudra Yojana that gives small loans to poor to start their own ventures.

“The work is not up to our expectations. Only the village got publicity across the country, thanks to the media,” says Sukhu looking wistfully at the damaged road that leads to the village that has a population of 4,200.

However, Vijay Kumar, a 40-year-old farmer, does not share the views of Prakash. Kumar, who grows vegetables on his one-acre farm, waxes eloquent about the transformation of the village after Modi adopted it under SAGY.

“The two solar power plants set up in the village light up each and every home,” Kumar said.

He was referring to the two 25KW solar power plants that light up two LED bulbs and a mobile charging point in each house.

Besides, 135 solar street lamps have lit up the once sleepy village. But, Sukhu pointed out that many solar lamps were non-functional as the batteries that power them have been stolen.

‘Situation improved’
“The power situation has improved manifold, our children can even study at night,” said Mukesh Patel, a graduate in agricultural science.

Since Modi adopted the village, Jayapur has got its own post office, a BSNL mobile tower, better schools and branches of two nationalised banks.

Manish Kumar, who runs a small shop in the village, complained about the fewer number of houses built under the Centre’s rural housing scheme.

“Only the musahar caste families have been given homes,” he said referring to the 14 homes that form the ‘Atal Nagar’ on the outskirts of the village.

Prakash said the Samajwadi Party government has marked villages dotting Jayapur for all round development under the Lohia Gram Yojana.

 “People in these villages get Rs 3 lakh to build homes. The villages also have better sewage system and more hand pumps,” Manish said.