Living in the Dark: Odisha village 'still' cries for electricity!

Nayagarh: Even in the age of digitalization when the government is making tall claims to provide electricity to every house, electricity still eludes a village in Odisha.

Kerosene lamps are the only source of light for the villagers of Khandadhua under Daspalla block in Nayagarh district during night. Children have to study in the light of the lamps which often get extinguished due to winds.

Besides, the villagers remain closed doors after sunset due to the fear of wild animals. This is the state of affairs and harsh reality of nearly 100 families in the village.

"We lock ourselves inside our thatched-roof hut and ensure all works are completed before sunset. We have been assured of electricity connections, several times in the past, but nothing has been done so far in this connection," said a villager Ranjan Pradhan.

Another villager Baidehi Pradhan said, "We are facing a lot of problems due to lack of power; we even approached the Tehsildar, BDO and sarpanch several times but everyone turned blind to our woes."

Moreover, the villagers have to walk 5 km to charge their mobile phones.

Nayagarh district collector Arindam Dakua said that the village will soon get electricity connections.

"We are trying to electrify the village through non-conventional sources of energy as per the government's renewable source of energy project. Every house in the village will get power soon," he added.