Residents rue absence of electricity in Doda villages

Residents of several villages in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir are forced to live without electricity despite the central government reportedly allocating fund for electrification of the rural hamlets.
The residents of four villages -- Batoli, Bani and Chakla in Chakka panchayat and Grounda village in Mathola panchayat in Bhaderwah Tehsil -- said they are living without electricity even after 68 years of Independence and claimed there has been no progress on the ground despite allocation of funds by the Centre a few years ago.
"All the surrounding villages have been electrified around two decades ago but we have been left out perhaps only because of our caste, as only Gujjars and Mahasha reside in these villages. India became Independent 68 years ago but we are still made to suffer because of the slave mentality," Ghulam Rasool Gujjar, a resident of Batoli village, said.

The Centre has claimed it provided adequate funds to all states for electrification under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana and Deen Dayal Upadhaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, Gujjar said.
Officials, however, said once fund is sanctioned by the central government, the villages will be electrified.
"We are waiting for the funds from Union Government under Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana for hundred per cent rural electrification. As soon as we get the fund, we will electrify these villages on priority," said Nasib Singh, Superintendent Engineer Maintenance and Rural Electrification Chinab Valley said.