Baripada: Many pockets in Mayurbhanj district are reeling under darkness in the absence of electricity. Despite allocation of several crores, the backward pockets have remained out of bounds of rural electrification drives such as Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Bidyutkaran Yojana, Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Bidyutkaran Yojana.
The lack of electricity connection has resulted in a peculiar situation at tribal-dominated Kashidihi village where residents say people of other villagers are reluctant to give their daughters in marriage with the village youths.
Girls of other villages are not keen to marry our youths, as electricity has not been provided to the village,” lamented Salkhan Murmu, a retired government employee of the village.
Elderly people say marriages can only be possible when the Santhali Samaj persuades the brides’ side.
According to an official survey, about 8,800 villages and hamlets in the district are off the electricity grid. But unofficial sources say 100 more villages which face a similar problem have not been included in the official report. Kashidihi in Bhuasuni panchayat has not been included in the survey report.
The villagers had requested the peoples’ representatives and the officials of energy department several times for giving electricity connection to the village. Only electric wires have been laid, but houses have not been provided electricity connection, the villagers said.
In Bangiriposi block, the energy department has not provided electricity to 535 villages.
As many as 30 poor Santhali tribal families live in Kashidihi, 13 km from block headquarters.
Local resident Sanmirja Tudu says even though sports minister and Bangiriposi MLA Sudam Marndi belongs to this village, it is matter of regret that the village has been deprived of electricity.
Laxman Hansda, a local resident, said,” We have taken up the issue with the district administration several times, seeking electricity to all villages in the panchayat, but no steps are being taken.
It is also learnt that some people of the village have settled in other villages for lack of electricity.
“It is most unfortunate that we still do not have electrticity when people in other parts of the world have progressed far ahead,” said Chanduram Murmu, a local resident.
The residents threatened to boycott the coming panchayat elections if no immediate steps are taken to provide electricity connections.
The villagers held discussions with superintendent engineer of the electricity department, Rajiv Nayak, who assured to take steps in this regard.
PNN
