The residents of Jokapath village in Chhattisgarh finally experience a spark of light after a long wait of 70 year since independence. The presence of basic facilities like electric poles, tubelights, and electric bulbs have brought happiness to the villagers in Balrampur district in Jokapath.
This is the first time electricity has graced our village. We are very happy and thankful. Our children can study well and progress in life.Villager, Balrampur district, Jokapath
With Jokapath surrounded by mountains and thick forests, locals find it challenging to commute from one area to another, with the absence of electricity connections in the vicinity. One of the villagers emphasised on his life becoming easier with the presence of electricity. He said, “Jokapath is a hilly area. Previously, we couldn’t cross from one area to another very easily. Now, as we have electricity, it would be much easier”.
The village that never saw light at the end of the day, now witnessed it’s children running errands and doing their homework after dawn. The presence of electricity connections has paved way for a progressive and brighter future for the children of Jokapath.
Also Read: Nagpur Gets India’s First Electric Vehicle Charging Station
We are very happy that we have electricity. Without electricity, it was very difficult. Now that we have light, it’s very helpful.Villager, Balrampur district, Jokapath
The state of Chhattisgarh ranks high in terms of power generation in the country. Every year, the state generates about 11,000 MW of electricity. Despite this, there are a staggering number of households, summing to 4.5 lakh in 27 districts, that are devoid of electricity connections.
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT to find #PollutionKaSolution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)