Infamous for being the home of top Maoist leaders Barse Deva and Madvi Hidma, Puvarti village in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district had reason to cheer this week – the remote village in the state’s Bastar region got its first television, powered by solar energy, on December 11.
“For the first time since India’s independence, the residents of this village watched national and international news, serials, and local films on Doordarshan. Children, women, and elderly villagers from Puvarti eagerly gathered around TV sets to watch programmes for hours,” a government official said.
Apart from the 32-inch television with a set-top box that gives access to 100 channels, solar-powered appliances such as lights and fans were also distributed to families in Puvarti through the Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA).
“Children watched educational programmes and cartoons with visible joy and excitement. Their faces reflected curiosity and a thirst for learning. This initiative is a major stride toward rural development,” the official added.
Earlier this year, similar appliances were delivered to Silger and Tekalgudem villages too in a bid to address the issue of power shortage in the core Naxal area. The initiative is a part of the Chhattisgarh government’s Niyad Nellanar Yojana to ensure 100 per cent implementation of central and state government schemes in these areas.
“Our efforts are not only meeting the basic needs of villagers but also promoting sustainable energy and environmental conservation,” District Collector Devesh Kumar Dhruv said. “Our district being a tribal-dominated district had always been committed to forest and environment protection. The distribution of solar-powered appliances is not only reducing dependency on conventional electricity but also encouraging environmental conservation. The use of renewable energy is a step toward reducing pollution and setting an example for sustainable development,” he added.
Silger, Tekalgudem and Puvarti lie near the Sukma-Bijapur border in one of the most affected Naxal belts in the area. In January this year, three jawans from the elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action of the Central Reserve Police Force died battling a battalion of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army, an armed wing of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) in Tekalgudem.
Why should you buy our Subscription?
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t want to be misled and misinformed.
Choose your subscription package
