J&K's Rajouri receives electricity for the 1st time after Independence

People residing in the far-flung and remote villages of Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir rejoiced on receiving electricity under the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - 'Saubhagya'. At least 20,000 homes in the district to the west of the Line of Control have received electricity for the first time since independence. The places near the border had been more deprived of the power supply since 1947. The locals have said that the move has brought a change near the LoC region on a “large scale”. 

Saubhagya Yojna 

The DDC of Rajouri Mohammed Aijaz Asad spoke to ANI on this development and said, "The Centre under Saubhagya scheme has provided electricity to around 20,300 homes. People are very happy here. The majority of the areas near the LoC did not have access to electricity since 1947. The scheme has impacted the region on a large scale". Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana - 'Saubhagya' was a new scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 25, 2017. This scheme promised to provide free electricity connections to both, the above the poverty line and poor families in rural areas and only poor families in urban areas. 

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Locals Rejoice 

The Sarpanch of Khadharian, Khadim Hussain said, "We are very happy now. Our homes have been lit up. We are able to carry out day to day work easily. Development is taking place in the region with the coming of electricity. Our children are now able to study at night hassle-free. Earlier, they use to study with the help of oil lamps and candles. There are four transformers in the region now”. 

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Another local expressed his happiness by saying, "New shops are opening as there is electricity now. Carpenters have installed welding machines in their shops and are getting a good response from the customers. Two to three electricity polls have set up in our areas. We are now able to charge our mobile phones in our homes. I thank the government for this". 

(With ANI Inputs)

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