Cuttack: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday directed the state govt to file a reply to a complaint alleging that electricity eluded 34 villages in Koraput district, calling the situation a possible violation of human rights under Article 21 of the Constitution. Accordingly, the commission sought an action taken report (ATR) within four weeks from the secretary, energy department, after taking cognisance of the complaint filed by Jeypore-based human rights activist Anup Kumar Patro. After perusing the complaint on Thursday, the NHRC directed that a copy be forwarded to the state energy department for appropriate action. The commission has also indicated that the matter will be taken up again after four weeks upon receipt of the report. The complainant has further sought directions to the chief secretary to take immediate remedial measures and ensure compliance with the state’s constitutional obligations towards rural and tribal populations.According to the complaint based on media reports, the affected villages that never got electrified fall under Boipariguda block of Koraput district and are spread across multiple panchayats, including Tentuligumma, Bodaput, Gupteswar, Majhiguja, Kathpoda, Chipakur and Kalar. Several of these villages are reportedly located along NH-326, which connects Ranchi in Jharkhand to Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, yet remain outside the electricity network.Patro alleged that the continued denial of electricity has severely disrupted daily life in the region, affecting access to education, healthcare services and livelihood opportunities. He argued that the lack of basic infrastructure amounts to a breach of the residents’ constitutional right to live with dignity.
