PRAYAGRAJ: Maha Kumbh transformed countless lives in Prayagraj, from that of auto drivers and food vendors to boatmen. One of the success stories — of a boatman family from Prayagraj — was shared by CM Yogi Adityanath in the UP Assembly. Overnight, boatman Pintu Mahara and his family have rowed to fame and fortune.
Pintu’s tale of success was not a result of fluke, but one of sharp business sense backed by prompt and bold decisions. The boatman from the Arail area anticipated a massive influx of devotees and expanded his fleet of boats from 60 to 130 boats ahead of the Maha Kumbh.
All the boats were operated by more than 100 members of Pintu’s close and extended family.He recalled that operating a boat during the 2019 Kumbh organised by the Yogi govt drove his business acumen. Based on that experience, he anticipated a massive influx at Maha Kumbh.
While the CM told the UP House on Tuesday that Pintu’s family reaped a fortune of Rs 30 crore, the boatmen told TOI that “the amount was unprecendented” but did not mention the exact sum.
He claimed that millions of devotees from southern states arrived in Arail to take a holy dip, which resulted in a rise in their income. The normal rent for hiring a boat for 10 people from Arail Ghat to the Sangam was Rs 6,000.
However, it went several times up during the Maha Kumbh period with one person claiming he paid Rs 30,000 for the same.
Pintu’s mother Shuklavati Devi sees the transformation as a blessing.
“The family was in financial doldrums after the death of my husband. In such a situation, Maha Kumbh came as a saviour. The way CM Yogi Adityanath organised this Maha Kumbh prompted millions to come and take a dip at Sangam. This boosted our income manifold,” she said.
The family thanked PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath for their visionary approach.
