Kamal Kumar Biswas.TOD.Kumarganj
A poor elderly tribal couple in Kumarganj block of South Dinajpur district, pushed to the brink by mounting electricity dues, were forced to sell their last remaining 9 decimals of land to clear arrears running into more than ₹1 lakh—an episode that has sparked outrage and raised troubling questions about the functioning of the power distribution system.
The couple, Bishan Hembram and his wife Sita Baskey, residents of Dhadalpara Baripukur area, are marginal farmers who had been living without electricity for nearly a year. According to them, despite repeated visits by electricity department staff, meter readings were allegedly not taken for long periods, with officials citing “technical problems” in the meter. Yet, the dues kept accumulating.
Last week, when the couple approached the electricity office at Barahar, they were informed that unpaid bills for the past five years amounted to ₹73,000, with an additional ₹35,000 imposed as interest—taking the total demand to over ₹1.07 lakh. For a household where a single LED bulb was reportedly the only electrical appliance in use, the figure appeared staggering.
Left with no alternative, the elderly couple sold their last piece of land—9 decimals—leased out additional land, and even sold their livestock to raise money. On last Tuesday, they paid around ₹1.07 lakh at the electricity office. However, while the department allegedly collected about ₹1.03 lakh, the three receipts in the couple’s possession total only ₹98,340, prompting serious questions about the discrepancy and the whereabouts of the remaining amount.Electricity was restored to their home later that evening.
The couple’s living conditions underline the depth of their hardship. Their two tin-roofed houses, built nearly a decade ago under the Indira Awas Yojana, remain unfinished—without plaster, doors, or windows. With no bed or cot, the couple sleeps on the mud floor, spreading a sheet at night, even during harsh winters.The incident drew the attention of local authorities after it became public. On Monday, the Chairman of the District Primary School Council, Santosh Hansda, visited the couple’s home and later accompanied them to the Kumarganj Block Development Office, where they met BDO Shribas Biswas. Zilla Parishad member Shuklal Hansda was also present.
Mr.Santosh Hansda said the family’s plight was “extremely distressing” and appealed to the administration to provide immediate relief, including waiver of the interest charged on the electricity bill.Responding promptly, BDO Shribas Biswas contacted the Kumarganj electricity office’s Station Manager, Nazmul Haque, over the phone. While the station manager stated that refunding the interest amount was not immediately possible, he assured that Bishan Hembram would be allowed to consume electricity worth ₹34,800 free of cost. Until that amount is exhausted, the couple will not be required to pay any electricity bill.
In addition, the block administration provided emergency relief to the family, including tokens for 48 kilograms of rice, tarpaulin sheets, blankets, and winter clothing.“This family is extremely poor and helpless,” Mr.Santosh Hansda said. “As soon as I returned, I went to their house and brought them to the BDO. The administration acted swiftly.”BDO Shribas Biswas confirmed that the electricity issue falls under the concerned department but said the block administration extended all possible assistance from its side. “We have taken the matter seriously and provided immediate relief,” he said.
The incident has triggered sharp political reactions. The Kumarganj unit of the BJP described the episode as “inhuman,” alleging gross irregularities in billing and recovery. Kumarganj Panchayat Samiti Saha-Sabhapati Saber Ali Sarkar went a step further, calling the conduct of the local station manager “embarrassing” and warning of protests, saying such actions tarnish the government’s image.When contacted, Station Manager Nazmul Haque said he was then on leave and would look into the matter . District electricity official Shubhamoy Sarkar stated that an inquiry into the incident was underway.For Bishan Hembram and his wife, electricity has returned to their crumbling home—but at an unbearable cost. The light now burns in a house stripped of its land, leaving the couple grappling not just with poverty, but with the enduring darkness of displacement and loss.
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