Bihar man spends 30 years digging canal to transform farming
Longi Manjhi, an elder from Kothilawa village in Bihar, spent three decades carving out a 3km canal—mostly by himself—to bring much-needed water to his drought-hit village.
His determination has turned dry fields green again, with the aim of helping keep young people from leaving home.
How he did it (and why it matters)
Starting about 30 years ago with just a spade, hammer, and crowbar, Manjhi faced skepticism and little support—even from his own family.
But he kept going, cutting through hills and forests so crops could finally thrive beyond just lentils.
The impact—and what's next
Thanks to Manjhi's canal network, farming has improved with the hope of curbing youth migration.
The government even named the "Longi Dam" after him, though he still hasn't been paid for his decades of work (which could be worth ₹27 lakh).
Now, he's taking on an even bigger project: building a dam to supply water to 10 nearby hamlets—if he can find the funds for tools.