The tribal hamlet of Ballabhpur Danga in Birbhum has emerged as a model village following a state government initiative to implement over a dozen development projects and undertake a beautification drive following a surprise visit by chief minister Mamata Banerjee to the area near Sonajhuri forest on December 30.

After attending her mega rally in Bolpur on December 29, Mamata had visited Ballabhpur Danga village the following day and spoken to residents. As the chief minister walked through Ballabhpur Danga, she interacted with the villagers who told her about their long-standing demands.

While listening to the complaints, the chief minister instructed district administration officials accompanying her to redress the grievances of the people at the earliest.

Following Mamata’s instructions for the development of the village, separate sets of government officials made random visits to Ballabhpur Danga to sort out problems and also took measurements to implement at least a dozen development projects earlier last week.

Apart from constructing toilets, bathing ghats and changing rooms, in addition to solar submersible pumps to meet the demand of drinking water, the government has already painted walls of the tribal homes as part of a “local beautification” drive.

“We could not have imagined that so many projects would be completed within such a short period. It was really surprising for us and it happened only because Mamata didi had visited our place. The village has become a new place for us after the walls of our houses were so beautifully painted,” said Sanmani Soren, a villager who interacted with the chief minister during her visit on December 30.

“She took up a ladle to cook a vegetable curry at a roadside kiosk,” said one villager while recollecting Mamata’s visit to the quaint hamlet.

“The chief minister asked us to add more chilli for flavour,” he added.

Officials said the development projects included setting up of solar street lights, 144 toilets for villagers, construction of two culverts along with several concrete roads, tube well platforms with soak pits and electricity connection to individual homes.

The villagers reportedly complained to the chief minister about the bad condition of the government-provided toilets and the lack of supply of drinking water along with other demands.

On Wednesday morning, secretary of self-help groups, Roshni Sen, and district magistrate Vijay Bharti visited the village to supervise the ongoing development projects.

“We have painted the walls of the tribal hamlet to preserve the tradition of their culture. Already, 60 per cent of the proposed development work has been finished and the rest will be completed shortly. We are happy to convert the village into a model one where all benefits from the government will be delivered to every household,” said Bharti, the district magistrate.

Sen said that she was “overwhelmed” after visiting the village.

“There is a saying in English — ‘bottom-up’ approach. The projects at the village were taken up after listening to the demands of the villagers. The move will not be restricted to this village but will be implemented in all possible parts of the district,” said Sen, who is the nodal officer of Birbhum for the Duare Sarkar project.