It may sound unbelievable but proper planning and intervention of the district administration has resulting in production of mangoes in Purulia district.
Shantiram Mahato, state minister for Paschimanchal Unnyan Development Affairs department gave away the prizes to the best mango-growers who took part in the mango fair, the first-of-its-kind in the district on Sunday. Mahato said that more mango orchards in Purulia would be set up and the state government is considering a proposal to export them.
After coming to power in 2011, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the district administration to come up with plans to grow vegetables and fruits on the hitherto known barren land in the district. It is interesting to note that the members of 80 families who had been suffering from leprosy and now fully cured are also growing mangoes. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme has been successfully implemented to engage people to grow mangoes on barren land. Purulia district is situated in the eastern part of the Chota Nagpur plateau, with the slope from west to east and the soil is red lateritic and full of gravel. Almost all the cultivated lands are barren land locally called "Rukha Sukha Jami". However, these barren lands have become fertile and useful by successful implementation of MGNREGA from 2011-12 onwards.