₹250 diamond mine lease turns man wealthy:Family leaves hut for pucca home; now taking farm work contracts

‘I remember it well. That day was Wednesday, July 24. It was almost noon. I was sifting stones in the mine when something like pieces of glass appeared among the pebbles. I picked it up with trembling hands. I brought it close to my eyes and saw a faint sparkle. A voice inside said this is a diamond, the one I was searching for.’ 60-year-old Chunuwad Adivasi became emotional before completing his story. He says hundreds of people work in mines here, but only a few get diamonds. On Labour Day, Dainik Bhaskar is telling the story of a family from Panna district in Madhya Pradesh. Diamond mines have changed the fortunes of many laborers. This is one such story of Chunuwad Adivasi’s family. A mine leased for Rs 250 changed his life. Now the family lives in a pucca house. Chunuwad, who used to work as a laborer in others’ fields, is now taking work contracts. The family also has a tractor and land. The family includes wife Savitri Bai and two sons Raju (40) and Rakesh (22). Elder son Raju is the father of six daughters. Used to curse their fate in free time Savitri Bai says, “Our life passed in the hut. We used to guard others’ fields. The grain from daily wages would fall short for such a large family. Many days there was no money for vegetables. The family would eat salt and roti and go to sleep.” The family had drowned in lakhs of debt due to the marriage of four daughters and household expenses. Nothing was making sense about what would happen. In their free time, people would curse their fate. Chunuwad and his sons also decided to try their luck In Panna, many laborers take diamond mines on lease for Rs 250. Many get ruined, while some find diamonds. Chunuwad and his sons also thought of trying their luck. In January 2024, they deposited Rs 250 at the diamond office and got the lease. After this, they started searching for diamonds in the Krishna Kalyanpur Patti area. Whenever anyone got time, the family would dig. Then they would wash the soil, extract stones, sift them and examine each stone carefully. This became a daily routine. Several months passed doing this. Ground slipped after hearing the diamond appraiser’s words Chunuwad says, on July 24, 2024, as usual, he was digging soil. He found a large shining stone. He took it to the diamond office. The appraiser told him that it was a 19.22 carat gems quality diamond. Upon hearing this, the ground slipped from under his feet. He asked again to confirm the matter. Rs 82 lakh credited to account after auction Chunuwad says that as per rules, the family deposited the diamond at the government office. The auction took place on November 11, 2024. The 19.22 carat diamond was sold for Rs 93 lakh. After deducting 12% royalty, approximately Rs 82 lakh were credited to the account. As soon as the credit message appeared on the mobile, tears of joy came to the family’s eyes. Bought plot for 6 lakhs, built house for 9 lakhs Today Chunuwad’s family lives with pride in the village. He used the diamond money wisely. Bought a plot for Rs 6 lakh. Spent about Rs 9 lakh on it to build a pucca house. Now the family is living in it. Has left wage labor, now takes contracts for work in fields Chunuwad Adivasi has left wage labor along with his family. Now they take contracts for work in fields. For this, they have purchased a tractor-trolley and several farming equipment. Both sons work with these in other fields during the crop season. They have also bought a scooter for supervision. This year they had taken a field on contract, which yielded a bumper harvest of 60 quintals of wheat. Plan to purchase five acres of agricultural land Chunuwad’s elder son Raju Adivasi says that as soon as they received the diamond money, they paid off the debt. They have six daughters whom they want to educate well. Then they will also get them married well. Earlier no one used to acknowledge them. Now times have changed. Used to guard the fields all night long. We are going to buy 5 acres of land. Just want this much that in the future we don’t have to beg before anyone.