How 1,200 NRIs Turned Madhapar into Asia's Richest Village

Have you ever imagined that a village in India will have savings worth Rs 7,000 crore as fixed deposits in bank accounts? As per several media reports, a small village in Gujarat has created history by becoming one of the ‘richest villages’ in Asia. 

We are talking about the Madhapur village of Gujarat. This a village that is home to a population of about 32,000 people. With a population in the thousands, the village boasts of having 17 bank branches, including some of the important public and private entities such as SBI, ICICI, PNB, HDFC, and many more. Despite this enormous number of banks, there are more banks who wants to open their branch in the village.

Madahpur: NRI Village of Gujarat

Madhapar's wealth is mainly due to its NRI (non-resident Indian) families, who send large sums of money back to local banks and post offices every year. The village, with nearly 20,000 houses, has about 1,200 families living abroad, mostly in African countries. 

Gujaratis, who make up a large part of the village, are very active in the construction industry in Central Africa and have a strong presence in the UK, Australia, the USA, and New Zealand.

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Even though many of the villagers live abroad, they still have strong connections to Madhapar and even choose to keep their money in local banks instead of in the countries where they reside, according to Parulben Kara, a former president of the District Panchayat, as reported by NDTV.

NRI’s Role in Prosperity

According to a local manager of a nationalized bank, the money that the NRI family of the village keeps on depositing in the local bank has greatly influenced the prosperity of the village. The village is well-equipped with essential facilities like water, sanitation, and roads, and also boasts bungalows, public and private schools, lakes, and temples. 

The village is also a place with many temples, including Sanatan Thakor Mandir, Mahadev Temple, Barla Temple, Swaminarayan Temple (established in 1949), and the Yaksh Mandir or Jakh Bautera Temple, which houses 72 Yakshas or Jakh Botera deities. 

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