Shillong, May 22: It is hard to imagine that despite achieving statehood 53 years ago, there are places in Meghalaya that have to wait for years, even decades, to replace a damaged transformer. Such is the story of Pahamjula village in the Jirang constituency of Ri-Bhoi district, which had been living in darkness for the past 18 years when the transformer in the village was damaged.
Despite several complaints and representations for all these years, help never came for the villagers, until recently.
The situation was brought to the notice of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma just last week by the local MLA Sosthenus Sohtun. The Chief Minister ordered for immediate replacement of the transformer, and in three days, the residents of Pahamjula village once again saw the light after 18 years of wait.
The village, comprising 77 households, had been living in darkness since the transformer burst in 2007.
CM Sangma visited the village on Thursday as part of his tour of Jirang, where they thanked him for pulling them out of ‘hell’, highlighting the neglect and apathy they had faced over the years.
The Chief Minister acknowledged the neglect and assured the villagers that addressing people’s concerns would be the government’s responsibility. “This kind of neglect is unacceptable,” he said, and assured that “it will be our responsibility to always listen to and resolve the concerns of our people.”
The visit was part of the CM-Connect Impact visit, that reiterates the government’s commitment to bringing development to the grassroots and addressing long-standing issues faced by communities in remote locations.
The Chief Minister also expressed satisfaction at being able to connect directly with the people of Pahamjula. “It is a small but meaningful and happy moment for me to be here with the people of Pahamjula village in Jirang constituency,” he remarked.
“I feel a different sense of satisfaction in being able to share their concerns and this moment of joy with them after they have waited for 18 years to receive this transformer,” he added.
Sosthenes Sohtun, MLA of Jirang Constituency, expressed gratitude for the Chief Minister’s visit and lauded his efforts in bringing development to the constituency.
He highlighted the NEC road connecting Nine Mile to Umsan, which has reduced travel time, and urged for continued development, particularly in road connectivity and electrification for the remaining unconnected and non-electrified villages in the area.
The Chief Minister also explained the unique aspect of the “CM Connect” initiative and suggested that food during such events should be prepared by the villagers themselves, sourcing ingredients from locals. “This initiative aims to foster a deeper connection between the government and the people,” he said.
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