Freedom From The Dark

78 years after Independence, tribal hamlets inside the forests of south Chhattisgarh have a reason to cheer as electricity reaches homes; light bulbs flicker to life in dark corners courtesy solar power,

- Ejaz Kaiser

FOR years now, the secret war has ravaged the forest, claiming numerous victims in its wake. Those inhabiting the remote reaches of Chhattisgarh have lived too long under the shadow of terror, cowering as bullets flew overhead and the soil rumbled from distant blasts. Now, as aggressive antiMaoist operations secure command over 'red rebels' strongholds, forces have reached far-flung rural belts affected by left-wing extremists in supposed relief to those subjected to the Maoist scourge.

After 78 years in independent India, tribal hamlets tucked deep inside forests of southern Chhattisgarh have a reason to cheer as electricity reached their corner of the world for the first time; light bulbs flickered to life in dark corners, courtesy of solar power.

The state government has facilitated renewable source of power supply to regions devoid of electricity in tribal habitats. Solar energy is lighting up the remotest corners of Bastar and faraway rural pockets with the aid of state-owned Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA).

Deprived of barest infrastructure like power supply lines and distribution transformers, the remote tribal villages are getting powered through an off-grid system of solar power, ushering in a ray of hope; freedom from darkness.

CREDA is also providing solarpowered appliances such as lights, fans, high-mast lighting poles, and solar-powered pumps for drinking ater and irrigation purposes. They are designed and executed to be affordable and cost-effective in the long run, CREDA officials said.