Mon Jun 02 07:17:53 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The tribal village of Jeelugulova in the Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh, India, celebrated the arrival of electricity for the first time on June 1, 2025. The village, home to 50 members of the Kondh tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), previously relied on traditional torches for light and protection from wild animals. The installation of electricity was made possible through the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) scheme. While jubilant, villagers still face challenges, including the lack of a proper road and access to drinking water.
**News Article:**
**Remote Indian Village Celebrates First Electricity Connection**
*Visakhapatnam, India – June 2, 2025* – Residents of Jeelugulova, a remote tribal village in the Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh, erupted in celebration Sunday night as electricity was switched on for the first time. For generations, the 50 members of the Kondh tribe, designated a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), relied on traditional torches for light and protection from the area’s wildlife.
“We used to be afraid to go out after dark,” said Korra Mahesh, a village resident. “Now, we can finally feel safe and have light in our homes.”
The long-awaited connection was made possible through the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) scheme, a government initiative aimed at improving the lives of tribal communities. While six of the eight families now have electricity meters, some were initially excluded due to lack of proper identification, highlighting bureaucratic hurdles still faced by remote populations.
The project presented significant logistical challenges, with workers having to carry electricity poles up the steep, roadless terrain of Samalammakonda mountain. “It took six men to carry each pole,” Mahesh explained, “and we villagers helped them as much as we could.”
Despite the momentous occasion, the community still faces challenges. The absence of a road remains a significant obstacle to development, and villagers must trek half a kilometer to a spring for their water supply. Past protests by the villagers, covered extensively in The Hindu and other news outlets, helped bring their plight to the attention of local authorities. The District Collector of Anakapalli visited Jeelugulova in 2022, paving the way for providing basic amenities.
Korra Balaraju and CPI-M district secretariat member K. Govinda Rao expressed gratitude to the AP EPDCL Engineering officials and the Anakapalli district Collector for their efforts. While the arrival of electricity marks a significant step forward, the villagers of Jeelugulova hope that further infrastructure improvements will soon follow, bringing a brighter future to their remote community.
First Piper 