Transformation of People’s Lives Through Electrification

“ Electricity can transform people’s lives, not only economically but also socially ” -Piyush Goyal In recently, May 2018 the ruling government announces 100 % electrification of all inhabited villages in India has been completed. But that doesn’t mean every villages of India has the power of electricity. According to, the union power ministry’s definition, a village is said to be electrified if at least 10% of the households in it have power connections and if electricity is provided in public places such as schools, panchayat offices, health centers and community centers. This is why even though 100% electrification of Indian villages has been achieved, yet government data shows that as of today, there are still 31 million households without electricity. So, one change that I want to implement for uplifting the society that is cent percent uninterrupted electrification of India. I live in an urban village that called Damana. Which is one of the village of India’s smart city i.e. Bhubaneswar which situated in the state of Odisha.

Even it’s a smart city but it’s very misfortune to say that there are a lot of frequent power cut-off in our place, Damana. The production of electricity is very high as compared to the demand. Still we are having problem to get an easy access to the technological update like internet and other electricity devices. Even we live in the Smart city Bhubaneswar which is one of the urban areas of Odisha state and yet we are having such problems than what must have been to others living in rural areas of western Odisha ? Most of the villages remain dark and they are not able to have the facilities of electricity. This ultimately hampers them from having easy access to internet, education, health, entertainment and information. So this is also affecting the overall life style of such places. The people there have been deprived from proper facilities of quality education which has not made them Page 2 of 3 competitive and capable. So, most of the rural people are not able to have equal opportunities and exposures. They are bound to live a less privileged life making their upcoming generations living an inequitable life. They are not able to get admission in good colleges and hence can’t compete for better jobs and chances. As they are not having good quality education and don’t have access to good government jobs, they are not able to make a proper reservations of their rights. This has made them to do low menial jobs not providing them enough wages to have the basic needs fulfilled.

The most favourable ways of living for them is the traditional method of agriculture, carpentry, fishery and working as potters. Can this life give them a prosperous life ? They were born poor and will die poor. Likewise there have not been any activities that can make them aware about sustainability. No any better income generation activities and employment opportunities have been made. So they are wasting the resources around and destroying forests for fire wood. Now the major question is are they living such a life forever ? When are they able to make a better world for their living ? The solution could be the provision of electricity. One village, one micro hydro power hydroelectric generator could be the vision for the betterment of those area. It can bring a lot of changes in such areas enhancing their economic and social life. There are perennial fast flowing river in such areas. The fast current of such rivers are definitely helpful for the production of electricity. The micro hydropower hydroelectric generator is cheaper and easier to build. It is typically a hydroelectric power generator which produces electricity from 5KW to 100KW of electricity using the natural flow of water. It can be easily build by the community and thus helps in the proper regulation and maintenance in the community level itself. This invention of Edison can easily bring a revolution in such areas. Page 3 of 3 When the electricity is abundant than it definitely helps in the development of job opportunities. Many kinds of local small cottage industries can be promoted that can create a lot of employment opportunities thus encouraging the local empowerment. Local industries like herbal industry, handloom carpet, paper industry will definitely get a lot of aid from this. If there is enough electricity than the traditional industry can be modernized making it more efficient and productive. It can create more chances of job creation. If there are more job opportunities than it will definitely help to alleviate poverty which will ultimately lead to prosperity.

The people of these areas are quite deprived because they are not having an access to the information. Media like internet, television, FM radios have not reached there. So people are not aware about their rights and facilities. If they can have constructive news on different issues and ways to solve the issues then it will help to erase the dominance and inequity that they have been facing for centuries long. Untouchables, caste system, witchcraft have been prevalent there and it could be eradicated. The discrimination between men and women can also be erased. Such type of information will help to enlighten them thus giving them ways to live an equitable life. These areas of western Odisha are rich in different types of resources like herbs, minerals, forests but due to the lack of information and proper utilization they have been destroyed and used in an unmanaged way. If electricity could be used in an efficient way then it definitely helps to replace firewood and minerals. It could thus help in the preservation of forests and different herbs. Thus electricity could help in the conservation of ecosystem thus leading to a sustainable development of the place. I think to make the world a better place to live in electricity has an important role to play. I want to implement those mini hydropower hydroelectric generator which will create major changes in such areas.

To make revolution in a place we should focus on energy and electricity as it is the basis of every aspect of development leading to equability, prosperity and sustainability and I definitely believe that implementation of hundred percent uninterrupted electrification of Indian villages will definitely uplifting the society of India as like as uplifting the society of Western Odisha.

Author: Jajati Jena, RIASE, Cuttack, A participant of Essay Competition ,August