Shankarpura Adiwasi Basti in Shivpuri is home to 25 Sahariya families who relocated here in the mid-1990s. They originally lived in Bilukho, a village seven kilometers away. When Sahariyas resisted forced labour in Bilukho, they faced sustained harassment from the dominant Gurjar community. Their huts were damaged, livestock was captured, and they were subjected to caste-based slurs. Unable to bear this harassment, the elders of the tribal families decided to relocate and settle in Shankarpura, on forest land near a stream.

Here, the community built huts and began living peacefully. However, in 2021, sudden heavy rainfall led to flooding that destroyed many huts and swept away domestic animals. After this disaster, though the residents rebuilt and established the present Shankarpura Adiwasi Basti, they could not restore the electricity infrastructure that was lost.

In July 2025, the Zenith team visited the basti and spoke with the residents. Several issues were discussed, including schooling, housing, water, and electricity. Amongst these, the lack of electricity emerged as the most pressing concern. Mukesh Adivasi, a resident of the basti, explained,

“Without electricity, we couldn’t charge our mobile phones. Children were constantly afraid of injuries from insects and animals at night. There is always a threat of theft, robbery, and wild animals. During summer, the heat and mosquitoes make life unbearable, and small children are constantly at risk of dengue. Homes remain dark, and women find it difficult to cook or do household chores.”

To address this, the residents submitted several applications to the District Collector during Jan Sunvais. Eventually, a distribution point was installed in the basti, but power supply did not begin. Later, during a field visit, residents shared,

“It has been four months since the facilities were installed, but there is still no electricity supply.”

When no action followed, the team and residents submitted another detailed application with GPS photographs of the distribution point. It was also highlighted that development work in villages is often deprioritized, complaints do not always reach higher officials, and as Sahariya community members are frequently away at work during the day, regular follow-ups with the authorities become difficult. Mindful of these nuances, the Collector called in Electricity Board officials again and issued strict instructions: “Electricity must reach the homes in the Basti within this week, or action will be taken against the responsible officers.”

Soon after, officials connected the distribution point to the main power line, and homes with installed meters finally received electricity. One resident noted, “After getting electricity, there has been a significant improvement in our daily lives.”

“We are now receiving sufficient power to have light, women at home are able to do their chores easily at dusk and use toilets at night. Our families can enjoy entertainment from TV and mobile phones. We are also benefiting from the government’s free electricity scheme of up to 200 units. We don’t have to be afraid of insects and animals anymore.”

Children still lack access to a safe school route, and livelihoods remain fragile. But one critical gap has been filled. For Shankarpura, electricity was not about comfort. It was about dignity, safety, and time. Its absence made every task harder. Its arrival shows how much effort marginalized communities must invest to secure what India’s city dwellers take for granted.

Bird’s-eye view of Shankarpura basti.