Barmer, Oct. 16 -- After nearly 80 years of Independence, electricity has reached Chelaram Ki Dhani, located in Suwada Gram Panchayat under Ramsar tehsil of the Sheo Assembly constituency in Rajasthan's Barmer district on Wednesday. For residents who have spent their entire lives without electricity, the arrival of power marks the end of a decades-long wait and the beginning of a new chapter. The area has population of around 250 people. For many families in these remote hamlets, absence of electricity has shaped everyday life, disrupted children's education and pushed young people to leave their villages in search of better opportunities. "I have spent my entire life waiting for electricity. I am now seeing it in our village," said 56-year-old Sawai Ram, a resident of the hamlet. He said that many children had left the village because electricity and basic facilities were unavailable, while some families continued to live there despite the hardships. His story reflects the experience of several families in the area, where generations have grown up listening to promises of electricity but continued to live in darkness. Another local Rami Devi said she spent decades waiting for electricity to reach the village. "I am 80 years old, and electricity has finally arrived. We had been hearing for years that it would come, but now we can finally see the light. Generations of my family have passed their lives waiting for this day." For younger residents, the lack of electricity also affected their education and livelihood choices. Suresh, 32, said he had to stay in Barmer to pursue his education because his village did not have electricity. He has since returned to the village, where he runs a shop and engages in farming. Describing life without electricity, Suresh said, "Our day begins with sunrise and comes to an end with sunset. Once the sun goes down, life in the village comes to a standstill. Darkness has been a part of our lives for so long that there was little we could do after evening." He said the absence of electricity particularly affected children, whose studies were interrupted after sunset. "As soon as the sun sets, children have to close their books. They cannot continue studying in the evening as children elsewhere do," he said. The arrival of electricity is therefore more than the provision of a basic facility for these families. Residents hope it will improve children's access to education, support local livelihoods and enable future generations to have opportunities closer to home. BJP leader Swaroop Singh Khara, who fought assembly election from here but lost, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma for the government's efforts to extend development to people living in the most remote areas. He said the state government is working to ensure that the benefits of development reached the last person in the social hierarchy. For residents of Chelaram Ki Dhani, however, the significance of this development is deeply personal. After decades of waiting, a basic amenity that many take for granted has finally reached their homes, bringing with it the hope that their children will no longer have to grow up in darkness. However, there is some disagreement over who deserves credit for bringing electricity to the village. While some residents credit Khara for helping illuminate their village, others say local MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati, who contested and won as an independent candidate, raised the issue and ultimately ensured the project was implemented. Despite the political debate, villagers are happy electricity will allow them to stay active for longer in the evenings. For them, the change means more than just light - it means their days will no longer come to an end with sunset. Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme assistant engineer Nawal Meenai said the scheme is being extended to areas that are yet to receive electricity connectivity. He added that areas, including Chelaram Ki Dhani, that applied for electricity connections before December 2024 are now being covered under the scheme....