How life has changed over the 10 years of Narendra Modi’s reign.

Name: Gokul Mahato

Age: 52

Profession: Farmer

Education: High school dropout

Family: Wife

Place: Kasidhi village, Purulia

Constituency: Purulia

Profession in 2014, 2019: Farming

Did you vote in 2014, 2019?

Yes

Did Modi deliver on his promise of acche din?

No, I did not feel any impact of acche din

Why not?

I have 10 bighas of land. My income has increased in the past 10 years but I could not save any additional income as living costs have increased, price of essential items have gone up

Has Modi kept his guarantee?

What guarantees? Modiji said farmers will have good times in his tenure. I did
not witness any good time at all. I am what I was 10 years ago

What is the single biggest change that has taken place since 2014?

I used to produce five quintal paddy per bigha in 2013-14. Now I produce eight quintals per bigha as the agriculture department has been providing us with free hybrid seeds for the past three years

What is the one issue you would like changed now?

I want better irrigation coverage in our area. If irrigation water was available I could produce two or three crops in a year

What he wants from new govt: Control price rise of essential commodities

What he doesn’t want from new govt: Anything that could affect poor people like us

Purulia votes on May 25