School-going students, present and past, of Nari Kurava Colony in Puthumuthu Nagar near Thudiyalur have been studying in candlelight for as long as they can remember as the District Administration has failed to provide electricity to the area.

According to A. Amutha, a resident of the area, more than 50 school-going children are residing in the 70 families who have moved into the area 30 years ago.

“Most of the times, a few children go to their friends’ houses nearby to study as there is no electricity. But most stay back in the area and use candlelight,” she said.
She further added that they do not encourage their children to go to their friends’ houses to study as a young boy was killed in a road accident while he was going to his friend’s house nearby.

“This is not the only problem for our children. Once a boy who was playing in the evening was bitten by a snake as he stepped on it in the dark. We spent more than Rs. 10,000 for his recovery. We make a living by selling beads and all we want is the safety and education of our children,” she said.

S. Parimala, another resident, said that despite them having received all government freebies including mixer grinders and table fans, they were not able to use them as they do not have electricity.

“We have received voter ID and family ration cards from the District Administration and are part of the Coimbatore district but are denied basic facilities for reasons we cannot understand,” she said.

“We need at least a single phase electricity provision for the area,” she said.