From ‘Batti Bandh’ to Batti Gone!!

In my second year of college, I was a part of a campaign called ‘Batti Bandh’. We put up slogans and held talks, spreading awareness on the importance of conserving electricity. And a part of this was also the event of switching off all power points for an hour on a certain day. This event slowly spread across Mumbai and the issue did get a lot of attention.

And now in the village, we have electricity supply for a maximum of eight hours everyday. And if the weather’s bad (by that I mean strong wind, excessive heat) that too is given a skip!
News of someones field getting all burnt up due to a spark leakage from a faulty wiring and acres of standing grain getting burnt to the ground is common, just as power theft and overloading is!!

It is ironic how (within the same country) I have moved from one place where people were requested to turn off power supply for an hour once every year to the place where people plead for as little as eight hours of electricity everyday!!

There is a desperate shortage of electricity here….or the power dept. is a major supporter of Batti Bandh!

*Batti- Hindi for Electricity
Bandh- to turn off.

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8 Comments

  1. Very ironic! Just goes to show how uneven is the distribution of resources are in the country. Same goes for the level of development.
    The village is truly the ‘real India’, or at least how the majority of it still is!

    BTW, I’m glad you can still write your blog, given the “slow and sporadic internet connection”!

  2. Yes, And the irony is not just at having to bare rocketing temperatures, but the condition of India at large.
    And like I say, “Developing country” is just euphemism, we must plain say “under-developed” and do something about it!

  3. Electricity has been an issue for so long in the village. I feel its lack of proper planning. If the authorities distribute power supply evenly and justly some of the problem will be resolved. “taar kheech diya” “line chori karna” oh yes i remember! All said and done, three cheers to you Sads for doing it all, most of us wouldn’t even dare!!!

  4. Yah its surprising to see the difference. Sad for the people living there. It sure needs proper planning. Anyhow, nice blog & well written. Keep up the good work! U’ve a new follower now.

  5. It sure is a big difference. And right, these people here need proper planning and real leaders.
    Thanks for the comment, the “following of blogs” btw, is mutual! 🙂

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