Belthangady villagers use SMS to get power supply

The SMS campaign started by the residents of Kodiyalu Mudipire in Machina of Ballamanja grama in Belthangady taluk, to press the authorities to supply powerto their village worked in their favour.

Two houses in the village have received electricity connection, on June 9.
The inmates of houses of Ramanna and Sundara in Kodiyalu were overjoyed after their homes received power supply for the first time in their life.

All these years, lanterns and torches were part of their life during nights. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, a villager  said, “I had visited the village six months ago and was shocked to see the plight of the people who were in darkness after the sunset. We decided to take up SMS campaign demanding power.

We formed a team from school going child to senior citizens and collected phone numbers of all officials from a second division clerk to the chief secretary of the energy department.”

“About 25 to 30 villagers would then send SMSes to the officials concerned like MESCOM and KPTCL among others, everyday, seeking power.

We would have sent about 500 messages to the chief secretary, one message to Chief Minister and made calls daily to Mescom, KPTCL Managing Director, its public relation officers, asking why they had been deprived of electricity for so long.

The campaign was a big success. The work on laying the electric poles began within a month and two villagers reaped the fruits of the campaign from Saturday itself.”

He said, “all of us should question our rights and demand answer from politicians whom we elect in the election. After submitting applications seeking service, we should demand for service.”

Rukmini, another villager said the inmates of two houses who received electricity had distributed sweets to celebrate their joy.

“Now there is a hope for the rest of the houses. So far, we did not have even a hope. We were only waiting for electricity.

Once the wiring is complete in my house, my house too will get electricity. We were using traditional hand made fans to beat the heat and the life used to come to a standstill after sunset as women and children were scared of coming out of the house.”