An Indian village, if anyone would imagine, will have greenery, a serene environment with people working in fields and crops all around. But hardly anyone would think of billionaires in a village, and not just one but with one billionaire in every house. This may sound like a story, which it is – the difference is that it is a real story.
The Madhapar village in Gujarat’s Kutch breaks all boundaries of being a village and boasts the money reserve it has, making it the richest village in the world.
What all does the village have?
According to a report, the village has more than Rs 5,000 crore as deposits in 17 different banks. Every house here has a millionaire or billionaire. With a population of around 92,000 and nearly 7,600 households, the Madhapar village is far away from a stereotypical village.
Clean and well-maintained roads, big schools, colleges, hospitals, parks, and 17 bank branches are what this village boasts to the world.
How does this village have so much wealth?
The secret behind Madhapar’s wealth is the people connected to it. A report in Moneycontrol stated that at least 65% of the village residents are NRIs (Non-Resident Indians). They are on different corners of the globe like in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Gulf countries, and Africa.
A lot of the Patel and Mistri community members went abroad years back, especially to Africa. Then, the competition was less and opportunities were unlimited. Their business flourished in industries like construction and trade. What made things different was that these people never cut ties with their roots.
They sent money back home, invested in the village and supported each other. This small gesture by thousands of people created today’s Madhapar.
The people here have not transformed the village only because of the money, but with the shared support and care for the place that once fed them.