Prayagraj. Maha Kumbh has been famous for its religious and cultural importance, but this time the success story of boatmen has also come to the fore. More than 20 thousand boatmen not only fed their families by helping devotees take a holy dip in Sangam, but many families also wrote the story of economic prosperity.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath not only rejected all the allegations of the opposition regarding the role of boatmen during Maha Kumbh in the Assembly, but also made it clear with examples that the government has never exploited them.
Citing an example, he said, “A boatman family had 130 boats and in a period of 45 days, that family made a net income of Rs 30 crore. That is, one boat earned Rs 23 lakh in 45 days, which is a clear example of the increase in employment-based income of this fair.”
The Chief Minister also said that the organization of Maha Kumbh not only increased the religious importance but also provided employment opportunities. The operation of more than 3,500 boats and the bathing of 1.5 crore devotees in Sangam is historic.
During this time, local sailors and sailors from nearby districts played an important role. Apart from Prayagraj, sailors from districts like Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Kanpur, Ayodhya, and Kaushambi participated in this fair.
Payers Association President Pappu Lal Nishad said, “For us, this fair proved to be a blessing of Mother Ganga and Yamuna. A small boat can feed three families, while a big boat can sustain five families.”
Regarding the earnings of the sailors, it was told that the minimum income of a sailor during the entire fair was about Rs 15,000 per day. The Chief Minister also mentioned the felicitation ceremony of security personnel and health workers along with the start of the cleanliness campaign and also informed about the announcement of a package for the sailors.
