The East Jaiñtia Hills unit of the Hynñiewtrep Youths Council (HYC) has written to the district’s Deputy Commissioner to apprise him of the lack of electricity, mobile network and services in villages along the Bangladesh border.
The villages – Huroi, Hingaria, Lahalein and Lejri – have a total population of more than 5,000 but, despite repeated requests, are still without basic facilities, the HYC said.
While more affluent families rely on solar power, many families have no option but to use oil lamps and candles at night for study and work, the pressure group added.
With Indian networks unavailable to them, many of the border villages connect to Bangladesh companies for mobile phone services, which, it added, only goes to show how much the neighbouring country cares more for its border regions than India does.
“It is rather surprising to note that Bangladesh can and is able to provide electricity and mobile networks and services to its people living in the same border up to the commendable fact that even our people have to depend on the same, while our country and government cannot do so for its own people living in the same border areas,” the HYC letter to the DC said.
