Somewhere in Jharkhand....

Over the last two years, the eerie silence that hung over the streets of Chatra has been replaced by the din of village folk working their farms. Once a Maoist stronghold where even the police dreaded to tread, the district is now spreading the fragrance of marigold across Jharkhand.
The presence of security forces across the district since early 2010 has assured villagers of their safety. As a result, the families that once played into the hands of rebels and grew poppy are engaged in marigold and vegetable cultivation.
Jurma Devi, who has been in the flower and vegetable business for the last two years, says cultivation of marigold and pea has brought tremendous change in their lives.
With an investment of around Rs 10,000 on a one katha (1,500 sq ft) plot, a marigold cultivator can get anything between Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 within three months, says Jurma. And with more than 100 families from Gidhore and Pathalgarha villages, around 150 km from Ranchi, now engaged in marigold and vegetable cultivation, her words seem to have a ring of truth.
Rajesh Kumar, who is mainly into vegetable cultivation, says business is profitable and people are making a small fortune every year.
The villagers, however, lament that the returns would have been far better had the government helped them get a fair price for their produce. The tomatoes that we sell to a middleman for Rs 2-3 per kg are sold in the market for Rs 15-20.