After almost 18 years of darkness, power is now finally flowing through the lines of Pahamjula hamlet in Jirang constituency. The residents of the isolated town had to survive for eighteen years without electricity after their transformer failed in 2007. In order to address the long-standing problem, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and local MLA Sostheness Sohtun visited the area on May 22. Now that the transformer has been fixed, homes that had been dependent on other sources of electricity for almost 18 years can now have power again.
The CM’s visit revealed “the joy this has brought to them” as he personally observed the community’s relief at getting their power back. Once the problem was officially brought to the state government’s attention, the village’s remote location had not stopped them from acting. Sangma also went to Nonspung A village on the same tour, where he examined the dilapidated Nongspung A Garo LP School. Since 1976, the organization has provided services to the community, but in order to continue operating efficiently, major infrastructural improvements are now needed.
The Chief Minister plans to fund new school infrastructure through the Special Development Fund, aiming to modernize facilities and ensure continued education services for students. Sangma also distributed musical instruments and sports equipment to support extracurricular activities in remote areas, highlighting ongoing challenges in rural Meghalaya.