NDA's Presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu has been hitting the headlines since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Chief JP Nadda announced her name as the candidate for the upcoming Presidential elections.
While the former Jharkhand governor and Odisha BJP leader's name is at the forefront for the next president of India, it is utterly shocking that her native village is still reeling under darkness due to the lack of electricity supply.
Murmu's native village Dungurisahi of Uparbeda under Kusum block is located at a distance of 20kms from Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district. The villagers are extremely proud as one among them will probably soon get decorated with the country's most prestigious position. However, despite feeling proud, the villagers have expressed displeasure as their village is yet to get an electricity connection.
As alleged by the villagers, they ran from pillar to post and requested several government officials and ministers, but their cries fell on deaf ears.
"Since 30 years there is no electricity in our village. We are living in dark and have informed about it to MPs and MLAs, but no one have paid heed to our cries," said Chittaranjan Baske, a resident of Uparbeda Nandasahi village.
"I have been residing here for 10-15 years. The village is yet to get an electricity connection. Now darkness has become a part of our lives, however, we are hopeful things will change soon. As one among us is moving to a higher position, we can express our grief directly to her," said another resident of the village.
There are over 50 houses apart from Murmu's dwelling in this tribal-dominated village. However, the village that recently is grabbing the headlines, is yet to get an electricity connection.
Even before Murmu became the talk of the town, Uparbeda village has a distinguished identity as it is the birthplace of former MP Salkhan Murmu, Bhabendra Majhi and former minister Kartik Majhi. However, the village is yet to see a new dawn.
"I am residing here for 20 years, but there is no facility of electricity connection. I hope, after she becoming the President, the situation will change," Dhanamani Baske, Murmu's relative from Dungurisahi village.
Most of the residents of the village are illiterate and many of them even are unaware that Murmu is one of the contenders for the President of India. However, the villagers are quite happy and are hopeful that their village will soon witness a new dawn.