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ONGC-sponsored solar lights dispel darkness in interior Panibeel village

By ANN Service

SIVASAGAR, Oct 29 - As the sun sets over the interior Dorika Kaibortta Gaon, Panibeel, near Sivasagar, fish seller Jatin Das and vegetable vendor Bitul Das close their makeshift shops perched on the side of the newly blacktopped road passing through the village. It is the usual routine for them as darkness engulfs the village at dusk and over 500 villagers in the village prepare to go to bed praying God to safeguard their livestock, pigs, cows, bicycles and a few bikes from thieves.

But since August 2019, the scenario in the village has witnessed a sea change. Thanks to ONGC, Assam Asset for installing 40 solar lights in the village streets, the crematorium and in the river ghat under a CSR initiative.

Now both Jatin and Bitul�s days go beyond dusk late into the evening earning a little more money right under the solar lamp posts. Sale of fish has risen upto Rs 1500 on some days and vegetables to Rs 800. Talking to this correspondent, Lakhi Das, a villager said that ONGC�s generous help has changed the lifestyle of the common villagers. People now can go for a stroll in the streets, do many things in the night hours and most importantly the number of thefts in the village has come down drastically.

Rekhamoni Das, a village tailor and a mother of two children, says she was very happy with the well-lit streets near her home as she like her neighbours can even make social visits nearby at night after completing the day�s chores.

Considering the power deficit scenario of Assam and to enrich the lives of the people in the interior region, ONGC has invested over three crore rupees for installing street lights in rural Assam benefitting 25 villages so far, Jameel Pasha, Chief Manager, CC, ONGC informed.

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