Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, February 07 2010:
Just for four hours of lighting a room of your house, you pay Rs 3 or Rs 10 for the same duration if you want to watch television programmes.
This is the reality at Makui (Liangchi ) village under Senapati district.
Comparatively a big village located some 70 kilometres north-west of Imphal along the IT Road, this Makui village dominated by Liangmai Naga community, has been deprived of electricity, thanks to the government apathy.
Despite of this situation, the villagers do not feel the pinch, kudos to Khuraijam Lokeshwor of Kanglatongbi and his brother-in-law Ch Michael of Makui village.
Since the year 2008, Lokeshwor and Michael have been supplying lights to the villagers through their generator.
They give lights from 5 pm till 9 pm on daily basis and charge Rs 3 per bulb for the four-hour service.
Those who own television can "subscribe" the lights and pay Rs 10 for the same duration.
Talking to Waikhom Shyam of Newmai News Network, village chairman R Luikamang said that the present arrangement is the only way for the villagers if they feel that the students are not to be disturbed with their studies.
Altogether 350 electric bulbs are being used per day, according to R Luikamang.
The village chairman og Makui also said that the Kuki-Liangma-Nepali association of the area had submitted a memorandum to the government but things are yet to be materialized.