In this Sagar village, power poles and wires exist but no current flows, forcing daily 5 km trips just to charge phones A village just 5 kilometres from Sagar's district headquarters has power poles and wires but no electricity supply, forcing residents to travel to the city daily just to charge their phones. A village barely 5 kilometres from the district headquarters in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, is still waiting for electricity, even as claims of power reaching every household across the state continue to be made. Poles have been erected and wires strung across the village, but no current flows through them. As a result, residents are forced to spend their nights relying on oil lamps, dhibris and torches for light, a stark contrast to the government's promises of universal electrification. A daily 5 kilometre trip just to charge a phone The biggest inconvenience for villagers is that even a basic task like charging a mobile phone requires a trip to Sagar city. Residents say they have to cover roughly 5 kilometres every single day just to get their phones charged. In an era when smartphones have become an everyday necessity, having to travel this far for something as simple as charging one exposes just how badly the electricity department and local administration have failed the village. The absence of power hasn't just affected charging, it has taken a toll on children's education, on job opportunities for the youth, and on everyday life in general. Children study by lantern and mobile torchlight The village falls under the Narayavali assembly constituency and has a largely tribal population, with around a thousand registered voters. According to residents, the lack of electricity hits children's education the hardest. As soon as the sun sets, darkness takes over the entire village, and children have to open their books by the light of a dhibri, a lantern, or a mobile phone's torch. On several occasions, when the mobile battery runs out, the children's studies come to a halt altogether. Getting through summer nights without a fan is extremely difficult for villagers, while during the monsoon, the darkness brings with it the constant risk of insects and pests. No power, no work: employment opportunities blocked too Young people in the village say they have never seen a regular power supply in their entire lives. Electricity does show up occasionally for a few hours, but it isn't of much practical use. Villagers believe that if a permanent electricity connection were established, small businesses like flour mills, welding units, and tailoring and embroidery work could be started in the village. This would not only create jobs for local youth but also reduce the pressure on them to migrate elsewhere in search of work. Missing domestic feeder is holding up the supply Deepak Ahirwar, an engineer with the electricity department, explained that the village does not have a separate domestic feeder, which is why a regular power supply hasn't been possible. At present, the village draws electricity from the line meant for agricultural use, which makes it impossible to provide a continuous supply to domestic connections. According to Ahirwar, a proposal to set up a new domestic feeder as a permanent fix has already been sent to the state government. He said that construction work on the feeder can only begin once approval and the budget for it come through. Villagers still waiting for government approval Despite having poles and wires in place, the village's residents are still forced to live in the dark, a situation that raises serious questions about administrative planning. Villagers have repeatedly raised the issue with officials and elected representatives, but no concrete solution has emerged so far. They now hope the government will approve the domestic feeder proposal soon, so that current can finally flow through poles that have stood unused for years. If that happens, residents will no longer have to make repeated trips to the city for small everyday needs, and the village itself will finally be lit up by development. What this means for you This story is directly tied to electricity access and rural development, so its effect will be felt most strongly at the local level. • Across India: The case highlights the gap that still exists between official claims of universal electrification and the real situation in many villages. • In Sagar, Madhya Pradesh: Until the domestic feeder proposal is approved and funded, villagers will keep travelling 5 kilometres to the city every day just to charge their phones, and children will keep studying by lantern and torchlight. Questions & Answers 1. Where is this village located? The village is in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh, about 5 kilometres from the district headquarters, within the Narayavali assembly constituency. 2. What is the electricity situation in the village? The village has power poles and wires installed, but there is no regular electricity supply, so nights are spent in darkness. 3. How do people charge their mobile phones? Residents have to travel about 5 kilometres to Sagar city every day just to get their mobile phones charged. 4. How many voters live in the village? This largely tribal village has around a thousand registered voters. 5. How does the lack of electricity affect children? Once the sun sets, darkness engulfs the village and children have to study by dhibri, lantern or mobile torchlight, and their studies stop when the phone battery runs out. 6. What is the main reason there is no electricity? According to electricity department engineer Deepak Ahirwar, the village lacks a separate domestic feeder and currently draws power from the agricultural line, which is why the issue persists. 7. What has been done to fix the problem? A proposal for a new domestic feeder has been sent to the state government as a permanent solution, and construction will begin once it is approved and funded. 8. What benefit would a permanent power supply bring? Villagers say it would allow small businesses like flour mills, welding units and tailoring and embroidery work to start, creating jobs and reducing migration. https://trendkia.com/en/madhya-pradesh/sagar-ke-eka-ganva-men-khnbhe-aura-tara-donon-maujuda-phira-bhi-nahin-ata-karnta-phona-charja-karane-roja-jana-parata-hai-shahara-5451 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.