Bagaha, Bihar — In Jhandua Tola, a remote village in Bihar’s Bagaha district, daily life is defined by a peculiar routine: residents, like Mahendra Ram, must travel nearly one kilometre to the nearby village of Susta in Nepal to charge their mobile phones. The absence of electricity in Jhandua Tola has forced nearly every mobile phone user in the community to rely on the neighbouring country for this essential service. This situation has persisted for years, highlighting a critical gap in India’s electrification efforts.
Despite national initiatives aimed at digitizing rural India, Jhandua Tola remains cut off from electricity. The disconnect raises concerns about the reach and effectiveness of such programmes. observed villagers making the trek to Nepal for mobile charging, a routine that underscores the urgency of their need for basic infrastructure.
“There is a 24-hour power supply in Nepal, just one kilometre from here. If we need to charge our mobile phones, we have to go to Susta village in Nepal. There is always electricity there. Electricity has not come to our village till date,” said a resident of Jhandua Tola.
The lack of electricity in the village isn’t just an inconvenience; it has far-reaching consequences for communication, safety, and daily activities. Villagers express frustration over being left behind while nearby communities benefit from constant power. “We need electricity for basic communication, but we are left in the dark,” said another resident.
Challenges Beyond Connectivity
The absence of electricity has also impacted education and safety. Villager highlighted the struggles children face in studying at night due to the darkness. “Children cannot study at night, and with no electricity, the village is engulfed in darkness. The wild animals—like tigers, leopards, and rhinoceroses—are a constant threat. We’ve lost five goats to tigers already,” he said, expressing the fear that permeates the community as they live in the shadow of forested areas.
Jhandua Tola is located on the Indo-Nepal border in West Champaran, Bihar, along with neighbouring villages Bean Toli and Chakdahva. Collectively, these villages house over 200 families who have never had access to reliable electricity. Although a solar plant was installed in the area, it only operated for a year before falling into disrepair three years ago, leaving villagers once again in the dark.
A Bitter Contrast: The Tale of Neighbouring Villages
While Jhandua Tola and nearby villages continue to suffer, just three kilometres away in Bhedihari, people enjoy the benefits of electricity. “People there have access to TVs, fridges, and fans. We’ve heard about them, but we have never seen them,” shared Phoolkumari Devi, a 70-year-old resident of Jhandua Tola. She recalled a brief period of joy when the solar plant was functional but lamented its failure. “Now, we cook dinner during the day, and if it’s not ready, we go to bed hungry.”
In an effort to address the ongoing issue, the Bihar state government has announced plans to build a power grid for these villages, costing Rs 139 crore. The project, which will supply electricity through both offline and online means, is currently in the tender process. On a recent visit to Ghotwa Tola, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone for the initiative, signaling a potential solution. Alok Amritanshu, Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department, assured that work would begin within two months, with the goal of providing 24-hour electricity to the region.
Hope for the Future
Despite the ongoing challenges, there is a glimmer of hope for Jhandua Tola and its neighbouring villages. Once the power grid is established, residents are hopeful that they will finally have access to the basic amenities that others in the region take for granted.
“The state government is working to bring electricity, and we’re hopeful,” said a local resident. However, as they watch the lights across the border in Nepal, many wonder when their village will experience the same benefits.
The delay in electrification has been attributed to the village’s location along the Gandak River and its proximity to dense forests, which have posed challenges for infrastructure development. But with the government’s renewed focus on the area, the community remains optimistic that their long wait for electricity will soon be over, improving their safety, education, and quality of life.