Earthquake-hit people from the remote Korak VDC in the district have received solar lamps free of cost, thanks to the efforts of the Empower Generation Project and Lions Club of Chitwan.

The villagers, who are still deprived of power supply, use kerosene lamps at night and are compelled to use pinewood when they fail to manage kerosene. They said they were unable carry out household chores in the evening due to the lack of power supply. Likewise, they are also unable to charge their mobile phone sets and run mills.

Rupa Chepang of Beldanda in Korak-3 said she walked for three hours to reach Kirantar on Tuesday after learning that solar lamps are being distributed there. “We have no money to buy kerosene,” she said.

Bhim Bahadur Tamang, chairman of a local Community Forest Users’ Committee, said shortage of drinking water and power supply are two major problems in the area.

Power supply is yet to be connected to Wards Numbers 1 to 6 in the VDC resided mostly by the Tamang and Chepang communities. Sanam Chepang, a fourth grader of Jimling, said they are unable to study in the evening due to the lack of electricity. “Now we can study with the light of the solar lamp,” he said.

The organisations have provided solar lamps, which can be charged during the day and used at night, to 516 families in the VDC.