Tral, Sept 20: In a heart-wrenching case, an elderly couple from Largam village in Tral, South Kashmir, is battling with a massive Rs. 5.40 lakh electricity bill.
After Rising Kashmir highlighted their plight, the Power Development Department (PDD) responded by offering a waiver of Rs. 4 lakh, but the couple remains unable to clear the remaining amount.
Mohammad Sultan Dar and his wife, who is deaf and mute, say they live in extreme poverty, barely managing to eat two meals a day. “We have no one. We rely on God and the kindness of villagers who give us food and some money,” said Dar. Despite the government’s claims of providing facilities to those in need, the couple says no department has ever reached out to them.
The Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) confirmed in a tweet that the couple owes Rs. 5.4 lakh as of July 2024 and that Rs. 4.08 lakh can be waived under the Power Amnesty Scheme if the principal amount is paid. However, the elderly couple says they are in no position to pay any amount.
Netizens have called for a full waiver of the bill and a government scheme to support people like the couple, who have no means to earn a livelihood. Many have pointed out that the government should provide basic necessities such as electricity, drinking water, medical care, and food to those living in extreme poverty.
Neighbours of the couple also shared their concern. “His wife is deaf and mute, and the locals take them to the hospital whenever they fall ill, as they have no one else,” said Gulam Hassan. He urged the government to step in, as elderly people like Dar cannot navigate the complex system of government schemes.
The public is urging other departments, such as Rural Development and Social Welfare, to reach out and assist the couple in receiving the necessary aid
Ensure with pix
