After 78 years in the dark, Rajasthan’s Sahariya hamlet in Baran district finally gets electricity

In a landmark development, a remote tribal hamlet in Rajasthan’s Baran district received electricity for the very first time, 78 years after India’s independence. The isolated community, home to around 200 members of the Sahariya tribe, lives about 3 km away from Sanvara village in a rugged, hilly region approximately 175 km from the district headquarters.

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The electrification was completed on June 30, marking the final step in ensuring 100% power connectivity across Baran district, according to District Collector Rohitashva Singh Tomar. The swift action followed a grievance raised by villagers during a Ratri Chopal (night community meeting) on May 23. Former sarpanch Badri Sahariya highlighted that 40 Sahariya families had never had access to electricity.

Moved by their decades-long plight, the district administration acted promptly. The next day, the collector personally visited the area and directed officials to begin immediate electrification. Superintendent Engineer N M Bilotia led the efforts, completing the task in just over three weeks despite the challenging terrain.

The technical work involved laying 2 km of 11 kV high-tension line, 1 km of low-tension wiring, setting up two single-phase connections, installing 25 kV transformers, and erecting 38 electric poles, all in rocky and uneven terrain.

This initiative was also supported under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN), a central scheme aimed at uplifting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) like the Sahariyas. Alongside electricity, these families have now been approved for permanent housing under the same program.

Locals expressed immense joy and pride at finally having access to electricity, calling it a life-changing moment.