Imran Shah
Kishtwar, (TDD): Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), free solar lighting systems have been distributed to residents of Marwah and Warwan blocks in district Kishtwar, where conventional electricity is still unavailable.
The initiative, launched in 2016 by the Science and Technology Department and implemented here now, has been a lifeline for the remote and isolated areas. Earlier efforts began in 2009 under the PDP-led government and were further reinforced in 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Locals have expressed their gratitude for the initiative. Ab. Rasheed, a resident, said, “Modi ji ne ghar-ghar roshni di, aur hum sab uske liye shukriya karte hain. Agar yeh solar light nahi hoti, toh yahan zindagi aur mushkil hoti.” (Modi ji brought light to every home, and we are all thankful for it. Without these solar lights, life here would have been even tougher.)
Another resident, Fatima Begum, beamed, “Yeh solar lights ne humein kuch sahara diya hai, par ab humein bijli aur sadkon ki zarurat hai, taaki hum baaki duniya se judein.” (These solar lights have given us some relief, but now we need proper electricity and roads to connect with the rest of the world.)
Despite solar power, 95 percent of the population in Marwah and Warwan remains unemployed.
Network connectivity remains poor with incomplete implementation of 5G infrastructure.
The blocks remain largely cut off from district Kishtwar due to inadequate roads and delayed infrastructure projects.
Locals also pointed out the limitations of the solar lights. Ghulam Ahmad, another resident, said, “Solar light toh hai, lekin yeh hamari saari zarurat poori nahi karti. Bijli aur connectivity ke bina, hum 21vi sadi se pichhe reh gaye hain.” (We have solar lights, but they don’t meet all our needs. Without electricity and connectivity, we are lagging behind in the 21st century.)
While solar lighting has brought some relief, residents continue to call for comprehensive development, including better connectivity, employment opportunities and integration with the rest of the region(TDD)
