After 78 Years, Four Remote Tribal Villages of Potka Set to Get Electricity

Jamshedpur: Potka MLA Sanjeev Sardar, accompanied by a team of district administration officials, went through mountain terrains on Tuesday to talk to residents of Mithaijharna and surrounding pockets under the remote Narda Panchayat.

The legislator and officials boarded three tractors to navigate a gruelling 14-kilometer hilly pathway to reach Mithaijharna, where they held a community meeting to address their civic grievances.

Located nearly 30 kilometers away from the Potka block headquarters, the villages of Mithaijharna, Chukagoda, Bansbani, and Jamkuta sit atop a mountain range isolated from the main road network. These hamlets house 60 to 70 Sabar (primitive tribe) and tribal families. Despite a combined population of nearly 1,100 residents, these villages have lacked basic amenities even 78 years after Independence.

Foundation stone laid for electrification

Following the review, MLA Sanjeev Sardar officially laid the foundation stone for a comprehensive rural electrification scheme across the four villages under the state welfare umbrella. This initiative clears the path for these mountain hamlets to receive regular grid electricity for the very first time.

Currently, the villagers rely on scattered solar panels installed by Tata Steel to power basic lights and fans.

Addressing the gathering, Jadugora Electricity Department SDO Mohammad Saifuddin assured residents that teams will execute the electrification work rapidly to deliver immediate relief to the households.

Villagers see hope as MLA orders blueprint for civic amenities

To resolve these long-pending issues, Sardar brought top officials from the block, revenue circle, electricity department, forest department, drinking water supply department, and Tata Steel directly to the ground.

During the community interaction, the MLA noted down grievances regarding electricity, roads, water supply, housing, and pensions. Sardar directed the officers of the five present departments to formulate an immediate blueprint to resolve these challenges.

Government aims to mainstream remote hamlets: Sardar

Reflecting on the area’s history, MLA Sanjeev Sardar pointed out that these hill villages—positioned right on the border of Potka and Dumaria blocks—once suffered under Maoist influence, which stalled development projects for decades.

“It remains a matter of serious concern that these villages lack basic amenities decades after Independence,” Sardar said. “Our Abua Government (Our Government) focuses entirely on delivering welfare benefits to the very last person in society. We will rapidly bring these villages into the developmental mainstream by ensuring electricity, permanent housing, clean drinking water, and timely pensions.”