Light wonder

Tribals, young and old, in the remote villages of Old Lemta, Dunong and Makuinong in Manipur’s Tamenglong district bordering Nagaland have never seen electric light.

However, thanks to the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency, a government undertaking, now the tribals have solar electricity. C. Kadijaiwi, chieftain of Old Lemta, said it would take not less than half a century for the Electricity Department to power the villages. There are no modern amenities available to the villagers and electricity is still a pipe dream.

C. Hungamkhambou, chieftain of Dunong, said as there was no electricity students could not study at night. A litre of kerosene costs Rs. 40 or more in the district. As poor villagers cannot afford to keep lamps, they have dinner before nightfall and go to bed soon after.

As the sky is always clear in this mountainous area, there will be no dearth of solar power.

Now, the happy people of Tamenglong district feel that all remote villages should be provided solar lighting, which will illuminate their homes every night, rather than power connections.

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