Muniguda: The Central government sponsored ‘Saubhagya Yojana’ or ‘Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana’ aims at providing electricity to poor and rural households in the country.
However, the scheme has turned into a curse for the primitive Dongria Kondh tribals in Niyamgiri hills of Rayagada district after they received power bills running over Rs 2,000. This has pushed them into distress as they ponder over where to get the money to pay the bills.
Even as over 70 years have passed since the country achieved Independence, the Dongria Kondhs living in Niyamgiri are deprived of basic facilities and live a life of drudgery and deprivation.
They were living in darkness but luck smiled on them after the Union government decided to provide electricity to all poor and rural households in the country and launched the ‘Saubhagya Yojana’.
The scheme aims at providing power connection to the houses of beneficiaries at free of cost and a free LED bulb and necessary electrical equipment from the government.
Accordingly, Dongria dominated Sakata, Kathagada and Gailanga villages in Munikhol panchayat were electrified.
As per available data, 30 Dongria families live in Sakata village where each of the family is using an LED bulb provided by the government. However, the tribals received the shock of their lives after they were handed over power bills running over Rs 2,000. This has dealt a heavy blow to the poor tribals who eke out their living by collecting and selling minor forest produce in the local markets.
The tribals are now clueless as they brood over the means to arrange so much money to pay the bills. It is learnt that some Dongrias, fearing action, arranged the money somehow and paid their bills while the others are not so lucky.
When contacted, villagers Paika Jakaka, Ilme Sikaka, Midag Sikoka, Majiben Sikoka and Krushna Sikoka expressed their inability in making the payment as they do not have the money. They said they will let the government disconnect the power supply and are ready to live in darkness like before.
Social activists Gourang Charan Rout and Bijay Kumar Sarangi expressed their displeasure over the development. They said that the lives of Dongrias will again slip into darkness if the government does not pay attention to their problems.
Narayan Nayak, executive engineer in Southco in Rayagada, said he will order a probe and the bills will be revised and power meters installed in Dongria houses.
PNN