This village in Jhajjar is still without power

Ravinder Saini

Several families belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) categories are compelled to live without electricity at Jahangirpur village in Jhajjar district for the past three years. 

Not only this, they have to buy water as well for drinking and other purpose as no government supply is available.

Open defecation is banned in the state, but residents are forced to relieve themselves in the open due to non-availability of toilets. They sleep in the open at night to brave the heat and women have to do household work under the light of ‘diya’ or a ‘candle.’

“Non-availability of electricity and water has made our life miserable. We have to complete the entire work under ‘diya’ or candle light. Our children are unable to study at night due to darkness. Television is available, but is lying idle without power connection. We have to run from pillar to post to get electricity and water connection, but to no avail,” said Kavita, a housewife. 

According to sources, the then Congress government had allotted 100-square yard plots to the eligible BPL families of the SC/BC categories on the outskirts of the village under the Mahatma Gandhi Gramin Basti Yojana around nine years ago. Over 20 houses were built on the plots three years ago, but beneficiaries live in eight houses only. Other house owners have locked their house following non-availability of electricity and water. 

“I have four children. They have to go to our ancestral house in the village every day to study at night as our house plunges into darkness after sunset. Residents of this basti are forced to defecate in the open due to the absence of toilets,” said Sunil Nirman, another resident. 

Sheela, a housewife, said they had to fetch tanker twice in a month. The tanker charges Rs 800 for one time. There’s a tank for most of the houses to store water. These tanks are connected to a hand pump, she said.

“I got solar plates installed on the rooftop of my house sometime ago to get electricity, but no other resident in the basti can afford it. Hence, they are residing without electricity. The authorities have been apprised of our problem many times, but no one is paying heed towards our plight,” she said.

Village sarpanch Kuldeep Sihmar said he was aware of the problem being faced by residents. “Concrete streets have already been constructed in the basti, while a proposal has been moved for laying a pipeline and ensuring electricity connection there,” he said. 

Ram Karan, Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO), Badli block, said both departments — Power and Public Health Engineering — were in the process of preparing estimates for providing electricity and water connection in the basti. 

Residentspeak

Non-availability of electricity and water has made our life miserable. We have to complete the entire work under 'diya' or candle light. Our children are unable to study at night due to darkness. Television is available, but is lying idle without power connection. We have to run from pillar to post to get electricity and water connection, but to no avail. —Kavita, A housewife

Officialspeak

I am aware of the problem being faced by residents. Concrete streets have already been constructed in the basti, while a proposal has been moved for laying a pipeline and ensuring electricity connection here. —Kuldeep Sihmar, Village sarpanch