"We are trying to bring electricity to the village and for that the village had decided that every household should contribute Rs 10, 000," Gyan Bahadur said. "I had no way other than to sell the oxen for arranging the sum," he said.Locals in Korchabang had hoped since years that the government would make necessary arrangements for electrifying the village, but it just remained a hope. So, tired of waiting for the government to come to their rescue, they decided to take things in their own hands, Gyan Bahadur said. "Well we waited long for the government to do something in this regard. But since it didn't, we had to. And this cost me my oxen, the only cattle I owned."
He is just a representative case. Poor farmers in his and other nearby villages are selling their cow, buffalo, hen or whatever they have to collect the contribution they have to make in bringing electricity to their villages. Apart from Korchabang, preparations for bringing electricity are in full swing in Bhabang, Kotgaun and Jangkot VDCs.
A local teacher in Bhabang, Lokendra Buda Magar stated that the villagers are going to that length, by considering electricity as a necessity. "Even the poorest of the poor people are making contribution as they consider that electricity is essential for their village," he said. "Relying on the government for providing basic facilities, did not work. So, the villagers came together and decided that they must do it themselves," said Budamagar.
Prior to this, the West Rolpa Rural Power Consumers Committee, a body formed for chasing concerned stakeholders for supplying electricity to the area of the district, had reached out to authorities for the purpose. According to its president Sher Bahadur Punmagar, the committee talked to the government bodies at the local and central level, several times for the purpose. However, the only thing the committee received was empty assurance, he said. "We reached out to concerned offices in the district and the concerned ministries, including the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance, among others, in Kathmandu. But nothing happened," said Punmagar.
Punmagar stated that Ministry of Energy has assured them of releasing some budget for electrifying the area this year. But if it doesn't, than each of the household will have to bear Rs 25,000 instead of the present Rs 10,000, he informed.
"We are hopeful that the government will do that much for us, but even otherwise, locals have made up their mind to do it on their own," he said. According to him, some political leaders have given assurances to make it happens and that the locals were willing to be positive about it.
According to the present plans of the committee, around 1800 households of four VDCs will be electrified at an estimated cost of Rs 70 million. The process has started. Presently, electric poles worth Rs 18 million are being transported to the villages, Bharat Punmagar, president of the committee informed. "Villagers are presently transporting electricity poles to their VDCs," he said.
However, the committee has been considerate towards the contribution from single women. Instead of per house hold charge of Rs 10,000, such families have been requested to pay Rs 7500.
If the present plans materialize as the villagers expect, there will be electricity in the households of these villages within a year. This thought has made the Ama Samuha, very much happy. Talking to Republica, Malsari Oli of Kotgaun said that everyone is very much excited about the decision and willing to help in whatever way they can. "After all, something like electricity is a step towards to development," she said.
Oli added that women are also going to benefit a lot once the villages are electrified. "It is women who suffer the most when there's lack of facilities. They have to deal with children and perform all the household chores, including cooking in dark. If our houses have electricity connection, our life will certainly change for good," she explained adding that Ama Samuhas in the VDCs are delighted with the prospects.
Local youth clubs have also extended their support to the initiative. From raising money to traveling to district headquarters for arranging tools and equipments, they are making voluntary contribution.
These efforts and enthusiasm has impressed some local leaders. Sher Bahadur informed that parliamentarians have promised to provide Rs 3 million from the parliamentary development fund of Rolpa constituency - 1.
Related story
Tired of waiting for Indian aid, MoE rebuilds schools on its ow...
