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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Lights up: Jeelugulova tribals celebrate freedom from darkness
VISAKHAPATNAM: For the first time, the tribals of Jeelugulova, a remote PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) hamlet atop Samalamma Hill in Cheemalapadu panchayat of Ravikamatham mandal in Anakapalle district, have seen electric lights brighten their village. Marking the occasion with joy and emotion, the villagers celebrated the moment with traditional Dhimsa dance on Sunday night. The hilltop village, home to eight families and around 50 people, has long lived in darkness, relying on fire torches and kerosene lamps. Surrounded by dense forest and facing the constant threat of wild animals after nightfall, the villagers spent many years in fear and isolation. 'Even to charge a mobile phone, we had to walk nearly 7 kilometres to Bangaru Bandalu, the nearest village with a power supply. Night travel often came with the risk of snake bites and injuries,' the tribals recalled. Some years ago, a few solar panels were provided to the village by social workers, offering limited relief from darkness. However, villagers recall that these panels often became ineffective during heavy rains, as they were prone to flooding. The residents, belonging to the Kondh tribal community, primarily depend on cashew cultivation for their livelihood, while turmeric farming also supports their seasonal income. Over the years, Jeelugulova's residents repeatedly raised their concerns at Zilla Parishad meetings in the erstwhile united Visakhapatnam district, requesting basic infrastructure like electricity and roads. 'Recognise us as people, give us light,' they had appealed, often holding torches during protests. After repeated protests, their plea eventually drew the attention of the National Human Rights Commission and senior district officials. In 2022, the then District Collector of Anakapalle, Pattanshetti Ravi Subash, along with Narsipatnam RDO Ronanki Govinda Rao and other divisional officials, visited the village. Jeelugulova tribals thank EE & Collector Following the visit, the administration issued Aadhaar and ration cards and promised electricity, drinking water, and road connectivity. However, the promises took time to materialise. Now, under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) Scheme, Jeelugulova finally has access to electricity. The villagers expressed heartfelt gratitude to the executive engineer of the electricity department and the district collector for fulfilling a long-standing need. Residents Korra Balaraju and Korra Mahesh, along with K Govinda Rao, district committee member of the CPI(M), conveyed their thanks to the officials who helped bring light to their village.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Jeelugulova tribals rejoice on getting electricity for the first time in their hamlets
The tribal people of Jeelugulova hamlet of the Cheemalapadu panchyat in the Anakapalli district were in a jubilant mood as they danced in gay abandon to the tunes of Dhimsa on Sunday (June 1, 2025) night. They had enough reason to cheer as their village got electricity for the first time. The hilltop village, located atop Samalammakonda, has a population of 50 persons, belonging to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) Kondh tribe. The villagers recall how they used to move with 'kagadalu' (traditional torches with wooden sticks lit at one end) to scare away wild animals apart from helping them in finding their way through the thickets. They used to mostly remain indoors after dark for fear of wild animals. 'There are eight families but electricity meters were installed in only six households, as two families had no Aadhaar card. Two poles were erected on the streets in our hamlet. We have been staying here for the past 16 years, before that our ancestors used to live here (Jajulabandha), some of them had died while others had migrated to other places in the Agency areas,' Korra Mahesh told The Hindu on Monday (June 2, 2025). 'Before coming here, we were living in Sadangi village of the G. Madugula mandal. We are very happy that electricity has finally arrived in our village. The line is being extended to Pasuvulabandha, another hamlet, towards the far end of the hill. The electricity department staff had a tough time in carrying the poles to the hilltop. Each pole had to be carried by six men, and we (tribal people) helped them in the task,' he recalls. 'The lack of a road to our village is a stumbling block in the development of our village. In the absence of drinking water taps, we have to fetch water from the 'voota' (spring), located about half-a-kilometre from our village,' he adds. The villagers had staged protests at the Zilla Parishad in the Visakhapatnam city on several occasions in the past seeking provision of electricity and formation of a road to their hamlet. The news was prominently reported in The Hindu had also other English dailies, apart from Telugu newspapers. The District Collector of Anakapalli visited Jeelugulova village in 2022 and directed the officials concerned to provide basic amenities in the hamlet. Narsipatnam RDO Ronanki Govinda Rao and other Divisional-level officials visited the village and subsequently the Aadhar and the ration cards were issued to the villagers. They were also promised power supply and drinking water facility. They were provided electricity facility under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) scheme. Korra Balaraju of Jeelugulova, and CPI-M district secretariat member K. Govinda Rao thanked the AP EPDCL Engineering officials and the Anakapalli district Collector.
