What’s inside:
This article sheds light on the current situation of a village in Jharkhand, where electricity is still a distant dream despite being just 50 km away from Ranchi.
In a village in Jharkhand, just 50 km away from Ranchi, called Balanga, darkness still prevails as electricity has not reached the residents even after 78 years of independence. While the rest of the country talks about digital India and technological advancements, the villagers in Balanga continue to struggle in the dark.
The villagers in Balanga village express their pain of not having electricity even after so many years of independence. They still rely on lanterns and torches to navigate through the darkness, while surrounding villages have already been illuminated.
According to the villagers, money is being demanded from them in the name of getting electricity connections and meters installed. Those who paid have their connections, but many are left in the dark due to the inability to pay. Despite government schemes like Ujjwala Yojana being advertised as free, many villagers are forced to pay.
The village’s story questions the claims of development during the era of independence. While the village is shown as having electricity on paper, in reality, the tribal areas and mountainous regions still lack basic infrastructure like power lines and poles.
With promises made and deadlines changed, the villagers continue to wait for the first ray of light to illuminate their village, bringing a much-needed change to their lives.