Odisha's Tikarpada Village Remains in Darkness 70 Years Post-Independence
In a stark reminder of development disparities, approximately 45 families in Tikarpada village, located in Jajpur district of Odisha, continue to live without electricity even after seven decades of India's independence. This tribal-dominated settlement, nestled at the foot of the Daitari hillock, is home to nearly 250 residents who depend on kerosene lamps and candles for their basic lighting needs.
Voices from the Village: A Life in Shadows
Rajarani Dehuri, the sarpanch of Kansa gram panchayat under which Tikarpada falls, expressed frustration, stating, "We have urged officials multiple times to provide electricity to our remote village, but no action has been taken so far." This sentiment is echoed by villagers like Naresh Banara, 62, who lamented, "Our generation has lived in darkness, but we want our future generations to benefit from the fruits of electricity. We listen to news and songs on radios and mobile phones. Some villagers trek 1.5 km to nearby Kansa village just to watch TV."
The absence of power significantly impacts daily life. Laxman Chatara, 42, highlighted, "Kerosene lamps are a lifeline for us, but the lack of electricity has a big impact on the lifestyles of tribal people." For students like Gurubari Juang, 12, studying becomes a challenge as she reads under candlelight while peers in electrified villages have better facilities. Homemaker Manik Bari, 32, described the difficulties after dark, "It becomes very difficult. We have to either burn candles or lamps, but when it's windy, even keeping them burning near the hearths becomes a struggle."
Irony of Location: Mineral Wealth vs. Basic Amenities
Tikarpada is situated in the mineral-rich Sukinda block, known for its chromite ore reserves. Amarbara Biswal, a Kendrapada-based social worker, pointed out the irony, "Sukinda valley contains 97% of the country's chromite ore reserves, yet villagers here are living without electricity." This contrast underscores the gap between resource extraction and local development.
Official Response and Future Prospects
Hrusikesh Das, an engineer with TP Central Odisha Distribution Limited in Sukinda, acknowledged the issue, citing geographical hindrances as the primary reason for the delay. He assured, "Due to geographical challenges, they are yet to get power supply. However, we have already started electrification works in Tikarpada, and villagers will get power soon." This promise brings a glimmer of hope to the community, which has long awaited the basic amenity of electricity to transform their lives and opportunities.
