Indian government, for improving the quality and reliability of electricity supply in the rural areas
had launched Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti yojna
In the rural areas, to provide basic framework for electricity distribution
Rajeev Gandhi vidyutikaran yojana was incorporated
in pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti yojna
Until April 2015, even after various programmes, 18,452 villages weren't electrified
SAUBHAGYA i.e Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bilji Har Ghar Yojana
aimed to electrify 100% of the unelectrified households
It started in October 2017
In 28 April 2018, by electrifying all the un-electrified census villages
a historic milestone in the field of electricity was achieved
today, more than two years have been passed, of declaring 100% electrification
knowing the ground reality in villages
is the topic of today's episode of awaaz ho buland
According to government scale, those villages are considered electrified in which
in which 10% of households have received electricity
and public places like hospitals and schools have been electrified
But a lot villages even after receiving electric connection
Due to mismanagement, the villages facing darkness again
7 kilometres away of Chhitra district headquarters in Jharkhand
In the village Holmagda of Birhortola where 120 people of 21 households reside
In the thunderstorm the electric pole fell, taking away the electric connection
-We don't have electricity
We got the connection recently
They put the poles,. It lasted for a month
Then we returned to darkness
-Since when do you not have electricity?
I think it's been 3 years
-How do you people manage?
-We stay in the darkness using torch
-How do the children study?
- children stay in dark
- We don't study, since it's dark, we sleep
-How do you charge your mobiles?
- nearby to the village it takes Rs.10 for charging phones
If we don't pay, they don't charge.
After achieving the goal of electrifying 100% households in rural areas
The next goal should be to strengthen the basic framework to supply electricity 24*7
Other than this, it should be emphasized equally that
connection once provided doesn't get cut.
Pachkesar village of Arwal district, Bihar,
is continuously facing electricity supply issues
With great difficulty, two years ago a transformer had been installed
Just after 6 months, oil leakage started in the transformer
-Since the transformer was installed, the oil has been leaking
Because of the leakage, the transformer is all burnt
-Have there been efforts to stop the leakage?
-A lot has been done since 2019, we even put in application
In the electricity department, but no consideration was paid
we complaint in 2-3 different departments since 2019
The supply has totally stopped, not even one bulb lights up
The supply is zero
No one has electricity in their houses, it's all dark
The electricity has to be provided efficiently at cheap rates
But if the efficient electric supply depends on the electricity companies
the recieval of electricity on cheap rates and paying the electricity bill
depends on the consumers
Hence if we intend to continue electrical supply in the financially weak households
then the electricity purchasing potential becomes very complex
The issue of hiking electricity bill, in the village, Bamundiha in the hilly region
of Junglemahal district of West Bengal,
has been troubling hundreds of families, including Chapla Mahat
IT was announced that if we don't pay the remaining amount in a couple of days our electricity line will be cut off
he said you must be using so much electricity, which is why the bill is so high.
He said I must pay full amount soon otherwise they will disconnect electricity
I've been paying every month then how can they bill me for 14000INR?
I leave early in the morning for work, come back home eat food
and go to bed. How did this bill come from just using so much?
Every time I would go to the office with my query they would say your bill is 14000
Din Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti yojna mentions, in the rural areas of India
the facility of 24*7 electricity supply has to be available for everyone
In Neelgarh of Shaktigarh Grampanchayat of Ghodadongri
Janpant panchayat in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh
From past 20 years, 60 families with about 450 people
have to stay in darkness because of lack of electricity
Which is a huge issue for them since their children can't study at night or even sleep
They are even afraid of insects at night
- There's no electricity, it's really difficult
The political party people come to ask for votes, then leave and forget us
-What all difficulties do you face without electricity?
-Since there's no light, we can't see properly even if the kids cry
We don't even have earthen lamps
First provide water and electric supply
Then only we will cast votes or we won't
-Are you people determined to not vote?
-we won't vote at all without proper facilities in our village
If a family has mobile, they have to go to some other village to charge it
-There's no money for electricity
-since there's no electricity, where's your mobile?
- I take my mobile to garigram
-What difficulties do you face without electricity?
-We're troubled by the insects
We're troubled for food, flies fall in the food.
- You have to stay in darkness?
- Yes, we even sleep in dark
According to the 2011 Census, the country has about 6 lakh villages
according to government measures, all of these villages have been electrified
If we count only the few household that have electric connection
then the goal of electricity supply for everyone can't be reached
For this, we need to bring flexibility in electricity bills,
and use the smart three phased meters
and make sure the supply to reach rural areas in a faster pace
In Ambedkar Nagar in Malad region of Mumbai
the slum residents get a monthly electric bill of Rs. 2000 to Rs. 2500
Most of the people here are waiting for resettlement
due to falling in the forest area, maximum households
don't have legal electric connections
Therefore about 15000 people are troubled
People here, to get rid of resettlement and electricity bill issue, have put in
complaints in the forest and electric department about the issue
Electricity was very important for the good education
of my children. I have paid the bill at Rs 14 per unit
How did you many during the pandemic?
I had to suffer a lot during the Corona period. Because there was no work, it was
very difficult to earn money sitting at home.
Were you able to pay the electricity bill?
We did not turn on the lights throughout the day, only used
electricity at night. Can't stay in heat without fan
In the Bheel basti, Udiawada of Unwas bhagal grampanchayat
of Khamnore panchayat samiti of Rajsamand in Rajasthan
about 10 families reside
Who have been trying to get an electric connection from past 3 years
Because of lack of electricity, children couldn't study at night
Our community reporter, Shambhu Raj, has helped one such family through his efforts
- You came here and things changed for us, kids can study
earlier we used to stay in the forest, there was no electricity at all
came to us first, convinced us to go to the officials,
and the second time you took us to the officials yourself(gram sevak)
its just the matter of the complaint application,
once we get that, the matter is solved soon
you took us to the officer, we gave him the application letter
and you stayed with us for 5-6 days and brought electricity to us
-Had I not come would there be any difference?
- you came, it all happened, you helped us solve an issue that was years old
our children can study now, you benefited us and for that we are grateful
we feel like there is someone who is working for us
-after you came we had electricity and electric meter, earlier there was no light
its very convenient for us now that we have electricity, kids can study now
we used to not go out in dark, because of panthers but now we go out
we feel like someone cares, otherwise no one helps the poor
In the past 10 years, the electric connection in villages
has accelerated the economic growth there
Small scale industries have also developed
With supplying electricity to every household
the ability and intention to pay the electricity bill is also an important factor
Its only then we can ensure a consistent electric supply in those households
Or else they will return to the category of unelectrified household category
The links to all the clips in this episode have been mentioned in the discription box
In the next episode we'll return with some new agendas
and stories of change from social efforts.
Till then follow the guidelines related to COVID 19 pandemic, thankyou.