‘There were no med facilities, education’ JAIPUR: Considered the ‘Kala Pani’ of Rajasthan before the turn of the last century, Barmer has barrelled its way into the top position in the highest per capita income in the state.Vaulting from the bottom levels a decade ago, the per capita income of this border district touched Rs 1.28 lakh (at constant prices) or 36% higher than the national average of Rs 82,226 in 2016-17.Similarly, the desert district’s contribution to the gross state domestic product (GSDP) has moved up to second position after Jaipur, replacing the industrialized Alwar. While Jaipur remains on top contributing 12.80% to state’s GDP, Barmer’s share now accounts for 7.11% of the GSDP.One of the most poorest districts where education and medical facilities just had a formal presence, Barmer was often used as a place for punishment transfers by the state government. But the discovery and production of crude oil is now attracting the brightest of talents from across the country.The transformation of the district from a laggard to leader is underpinned singularly by industrialization that was once thought of as having zero potential. As per a report of the state planning and statistics department, the share of industry sector in Barmer’s economy has shot up as high as 72.55% followed by the service and agriculture sectors contributing 19.33% and 8.12%, respectively.The fact that the share of agriculture has declined from 23% in 2011-12 to 8.12% shows how the people have benefitted from industrialization. Before Cairn India and JSW Energy’s 1,080 MW power plant came up, the district headquarters had only one hotel. Today there are 35 hotels, three malls, many bars, and several English medium schools, to name a few signs of prosperity that the industrialization has brought with it. Cairn India is producing 24% of India’s crude from the district.“Government hospitals, schools, colleges, various departments were running with less than 50% of the staff before this oil boom started. In my college, against a sanctioned staff of 14, we only had four. Nobody wanted to work here as there were no proper education, medical and other necessary facilities. The scenario is completely different now. Vacancies in government departments are far and few. It is no more a Kala Pani destination,” said Mukesh Pachauri, a lecturer in the government PG college in Barmer.Along with education facilities, the standard of teaching has improved, he said. Development has attracted most of the banks and automakers to the town.“There was only one branch of the erstwhile State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur and a showroom of Maruti, but now every bank and most of the auto manufacturers have their presence,” added Pachauri.The presence of around 12,000 floating population engaged by Cairn India and JSW Energy , including foreigners working in oil drilling projects of Schlumberger, Halliburton and Baker Hughes, have created a new demand, both in volume and variety for products and services.“The economy of the district is on a tear. Like the shifting sands of Thar desert, the fortunes have also changed for the better. The government which is receiving about Rs 10 crore as oil royalty daily is also spending on social infrastructure. It is no more a backward district which is amply reflected in the growth of the per capita income,” said an employee in the state petroleum department.

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