139 villages in Odisha still without electricity, OTV ground report exposes reality

The world may be stepping into an era of 6G technology, but parts of Odisha still remain trapped in darkness. Irony, residents in as many as 139 villages continue to live without electricity, relying on lanterns and oil lamps after sunset.

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What makes the situation more alarming is that these villages are not located in some far-off corner of the country, but within the State’s Swabhiman Anchal (formerly cut-off area) in Malkangiri district. Despite repeated promises of development and basic infrastructure, electricity has failed to reach these remote habitations.

A maximum number of around 67 villages in Chitrakonda block are under darkness.

For the villagers, darkness defines their daily life—impacting their education, healthcare, livelihoods, and safety. Questions are now being raised about why the local administration has been unable to provide even the most basic facilities to the people. What obstacles stand in the way, and who is accountable for this prolonged neglect?

These pressing issues are highlighted in OTV’s detailed ground report from the region.

“Despite repeatedly writing to the Department, our demand was not met. Some of us have been using chargeable LED lights, but those get discharged very soon, within two to three hours,” some Nuagaon villagers of Panaspur panchayat said to OTV.

“Kerosene is not available to suffice our bare minimum requirements,” they expressed.

“There are some villages where electricity has not yet reached. Survey is underway, and a detailed project report (DPR) is being prepared for villages where the survey has already been completed,” Additional Collector, Bedabara Pradhan, stated when contacted.

“We are preparing to supply electricity to the deprived villages,” Pradhan added.

Reported By: Jitendra Beura, Ratnakar Pradhan