Ramadan is again around the corner as the Kashmiris prepare for another span for spiritual conscientiousness, communal affections, and fasting from dawn to dusk. In the last several years, however, an issue familiar to all of Kashmir has scandalized the joyful and sacred ambiance of Ramadan: the ever-extended hours of unscheduled power cuts. It is expected this time that the government will take the matter seriously and initiate a number of measures to minimize power cuts during Ramadan.
Electricity is more than just a luxury; it is a necessity-especially during Ramadan. The daily routine of millions of Kashmiris hinges on the uninterrupted supply of electrical energy. Electricity enables pre-dawn meals-Sehri-and evening meals-Iftar. Erratic power cuts disrupt these activities, causing grievous inconvenience to families that are already grappling with the physical and spiritual challenges of fasting.
The prolonged hours of prayer and religious duties only heighten the importance of such uninterrupted power supply during Ramadan.
Reducing power cuts during Ramadan is a feasible task. It entails a combination of short-term plans and long-term strategies. The immediate intention should be to allocate the available resources fairly, ensuring no outages in the residential areas during the important hours of Sehri and Iftar through better load management, redirecting the supply from non-essential sectors during peak hours.
Otherwise, there should be some temporary measures: Renting power from other states, or backup generator use, could only fill the gap.
Public alertness drives can also help in making people refrain from excessive consumption of electricity, especially during peak hours. While not permanent, these measures help avert a big burden from households during the holy month of Ramadan.
In fact, Ramadan is all about compassion, empathy, and community. It is the time of an individual when all the needs should be met with a sense of urgency and an element of sincerity. Ensuring a stable power supply to the people during the holy month would show the compassionate face of the government to the welfare of citizenship, thus, truly upholding the spirit of Ramadan.
