Electricity still a distant reality in this Kashmir village

28 November, 2012

Deflating the tall claims of the authorities that electricity is being provided across the length and breadth of the state, Karewa Shadab, people in a village in south Kashmir's Shopian district are yet to see electricity in their houses.

WHAT IS more shocking is that the village, Karewa Shadab is situated just 4 kms from the district headquarters. While people dream of taking a trip to Mars, the poor villagers still dream that electricity would be a reality some day.

The successive governments, villagers said ignored the village all these years and the village presents a dismal picture on developmental front also. Due to this, the life of people in the village has become 'literally' miserable.

“The tall claims of the government about the development and infrastructure are evident. Hundreds of households have no electricity and good roads and infrastructure is also a dream,” a villager said. The people of the area use solar-powered lanterns for lighting their houses. "Our children are suffering the most as their studies are affected," another villager said.

They added that most of the times they choose not to study during night hours due to the lack of lighting facility. Residents said after repeated pleas, the government finally provided them solar lights seven months back.

But in harsh winters, people in this village have to return to 'dark ages' as they can't recharge their lanterns in the absence of solar light. "Government has only made promises and done nothing to alleviate our problems," a villager said.