The Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) recently distributed solar lanterns to 40 families of Kolha community at Kandalei village under Chhatabar gram panchayat, 20 km from the State capital.
High Court justice M Papana, Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) State head Surendra Pradhan, OUAT sports teacher Gopi Mohan Pattanayak, Dhauli Art College Principal Panchanan Samal, social activist-cum-banker Sripati Acharya, scribe Hemanta Pradhan and local Sarapanch Bishnu Prasad Denga joined.
Notably, the tribal Kandalei hamlet with 200 inhabitants is yet to have an all-weather road and electricity connection. About 35 tribal students of the village are facing hardships to commute to school and do evening homework without electricity. The solar lantern initiative was taken by social activist Susanta Sahu and journalist Ashok Pradhan which has been highly appreciated by the locals.