For them, it’s a dream come true. Four Dongria Kondh-dominated villages- Phuldumer, Khemdipadar, Kunakadu and Palberi- in Orissa’s most backward district Kalahandi district now have electricity.
Significantly, this power has not come from the grid which is still at a distance that makes it difficult to create infrastructure to carry electricity to these remote villages. The source is solar energy which enables them to come out from darkness. Thanks to the efforts of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL), a London-based company that facilitated the installation of the facility. At least 74 households have been facilitated by this noble mission. “For the first time in their life and after six decades of India’s independence, the primitive Dongria Kondh tribals now have light at their doorsteps. This is indeed a great achievement,”
The effort of VAL has brought conventional electricity to 11 other villages in Lanjigarh Block of the district, lighting up life of more than 10,000 persons in about 700 households.
In a glaring contrast, the electrification drive under the Central Government funded Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Bidyutikaran Yojana has covered only 2 villages in Lanjigarh Block and 22 in the Kalahandi district. And the electrification process using the non-conventional source of energy is a virtually a non-starter here so far, informs Mr. Sahukar. What is interesting is to note that the head of VAL’s Lanjigarh Project Dr. Mukesh Kumar personally monitors the electrification activity.
VAL, which has installed automatic traffic light system in Bhawanipatna, the District Headquarters town; has also decided to focus on improving civic amenities in peripheral villages which is demonstrated by 75 street lights already provided in the local Ambadola town. Besides, it has plans for street lights in Lanjigarh town in quick time.
The Dongria Kondhs live in hillside villages and depend on agriculture as their main source of livelihood. Since a section of environmentalists apprehend that the tribals would be affected by the alumina refinery project implementation, the Government and VAL have been trying to resettle and rehabilitate them in every possible manner, CM Mr. Naveen Patnaik has visited the area more than once and asked the local authorities to to ensure better living standard to the Dongria Kondhs.
Source: blog.vedantaaluminium.com
