LOIKAW- Several village-tracts in western part of Pruhso Township, Kayah State have no access to electricity as well as severe lack of services in education and health sectors, according to faculty members of schools there.

“While I was serving at a village school in Phruso Township, I had the chance to visit the houses of my pupils. I felt very sorry for them as they do not have access to electricity. Some houses have solar power but most of them are left in the dark. So, I asked the village leader but he didn’t know of any plans. Most of villagers are illiterate. The villagers think that if they passed primary education, they’re educated. If their children, look for higher education, they keep their children at the Catholic Religious School. There is no job in the village except farming work,” said one of the primary teachers.

MP Khu The Rayl from Phruso Township reported at the State Parliament that there were nine villages without access to electricity in Dawlarsaw village-tract.

The State Parliament replied that they would be supplying the electricity in accordance with the State Budget.

As Phruso Township hasn’t been involved in the appropriation of electricity supplying project, the Directorate of Border Affairs and National Races Development presented solar cells to the villagers at the General Administrative Department Office on September 20th. It was attended by the Kayah State Chief Minister.

MP Khu The Rayl said that the village-tracts without access to electricity were also interesting places for community-based tourism industry. The villagers have to do farming work and Kayen and Manaw nationals mostly reside in Phruso Township. 

In Kayah State, there are three power stations. Two were built in 1954 and one was constructed by Japan in 1982 as war reparations.

Three power stations had been built in 2008 but those were hired in Ahnargat Swen Arh Company with long term agreement.