By Min Zan
Electricity is a vital part of our daily lives. It powers our homes, schools, and businesses. Without it, life can be very difficult. In many parts of Myanmar, especially in small towns like ours in Ayeyawady Region, getting electricity is a big problem. Most of us get electricity for only two or three hours during the day and about four hours at night. This is not enough for us to live comfortably or do our work properly. Everyone in our town, including important government officers, gets the same limited amount of electricity. But there is one exception: the ice factory owned by a rich businessman.
The Ice factory: A Special Case
The ice factory in our town gets more hours of electricity than anyone else. This factory is the only one of its kind in our area. It does not benefit the people of the town; it only makes money for its owner. It produces ice, which it sells for profit. The owner of the factory has set up his own transformer and gets electricity directly from the “Maha” power grid, not from the town’s electricity supply. This means he uses more money to get more electricity for his business while the rest of us suffer very little.
The Impact on Our Lives
The limited electricity affects every part of our lives. At home, we cannot use electric appliances like fans, refrigerators, or lights when we need them. This makes it hard to cook, study, or even relax after a long day. Students cannot do their homework or study properly, which affects their education. Shops and small businesses struggle because they cannot operate their machines or keep their products fresh.
In contrast, the ice factory runs smoothly with its ample electricity supply. It produces ice almost all day, making a lot of money for its owner. This situation creates a big gap between the businesspeople and the ordinary ones in our town. While the ice mill owner enjoys the benefits of more electricity supply, the rest of us are left to manage with what little we get.
Like in other small towns, the supply of electricity is often unpredictable and insufficient to meet the needs of all residents. Suppose, for instance, that the general population begins to receive electricity at 11 am each day. In contrast, an ice factory in the town gets its electricity supply at an earlier time, around 10 am or even as early as 9:30 am. This discrepancy in the timing of electricity distribution raises significant concerns about fairness and equality within the community.
When there is a sudden power outage while the general electricity supply is active, the ice factory’s operations remain unaffected. This implies that the ice factory has a continuous, uninterrupted power supply, allowing it to function without any disruption. The uninterrupted supply of electricity to the ice mill, despite the broader outage affecting the town, indicates that it has distinct and privileged access to power.
The owner of the ice factory, regardless of his ownership of a particular transformer or any other infrastructure that ensures this uninterrupted supply, is fundamentally an ordinary citizen of the town. As such, he should be subject to the same conditions and have the same opportunities as the rest of the town’s inhabitants when it comes to electricity access. It is important to recognize that principles of fairness and equity should govern the provision of essential utilities like electricity.
During an electricity crisis, where the supply is limited, and the demand is high, it becomes evident that the ice mill enjoys a special privilege. While the rest of the town’s residents are grappling with power shortages, dealing with the inconvenience of sudden outages, and managing their daily activities without a reliable power supply, the ice factory continues its operations smoothly. This privileged status not only creates a sense of injustice among the townspeople but also highlights the unequal distribution of resources within the community.
In a just and equitable system, no individual or business entity should have preferential treatment over others, especially in the provision of essential services like electricity. The town’s authorities need to address this imbalance and ensure that every resident, including the ice factory owner, receives an equal share of the available electricity supply. By doing so, they would be upholding the principles of fairness and preventing any single entity from monopolizing a vital resource to the detriment of the broader community. This approach would help foster a sense of solidarity and mutual support among the town’s residents, ensuring that everyone shares both the burdens and benefits of their communal resources equally.
Is It Fair?
This situation raises a big question: is it fair for one person to have more electricity just because they have more money? In our town, everyone should have equal access to electricity. It is not right that the ice factory gets special treatment while the rest of us suffer. Electricity is a basic need, and it should be distributed fairly among all the people in the town.
The Role of Money and Power
Money plays a big role in who gets electricity and who does not. The ice factory owner can afford to set up his own transformer and pay for more electricity. This is something that ordinary people in our town cannot do. We depend on the town’s electricity supply, which is very limited. This shows how money and power can create inequality in our society. Those with more money can buy better services, while those with less money have to struggle.
The Need for Change
We need to address this inequality. The government and the electricity department should ensure that everyone gets a fair share of electricity. They should regulate the distribution of electricity so that no one gets special treatment. Setting up more resources for power supply and improving its infrastructure could help provide more electricity to everyone.
Community Action
As a community, we need to come together to demand fair treatment. We can raise our concerns with local authorities and ask for better electricity distribution. By working together, we can make our voices heard and push for changes that benefit everyone.
The story of the ice factory in our town is a clear example of how money can buy better services, creating inequality. It is not fair that one person gets more electricity while the rest of us suffer. We need to address this issue and work towards a fair distribution of electricity for all. By coming together as a community and demanding change, we can create a more equal and just society.
Possible Solutions
To ensure fair electricity distribution, several steps can be taken:
Improving Infrastructure: The responsible authorities should invest in improving the electricity infrastructure in our town. This includes setting up more transformers and upgrading the power lines. Better infrastructure will ensure a more reliable and consistent electricity supply for everyone.
Regulating Private Transformers: They should regulate the use of private transformers. There should be strict rules to ensure that private businesses do not get more electricity at the expense of ordinary people. This will help prevent situations like the one with the ice factory.
Promoting Renewable Energy: Investing in renewable energy sources like solar or wind power can help provide more electricity. These sources are sustainable and can be used to supplement the existing power supply. Encouraging households and businesses to use renewable energy can reduce the burden on the main power grid.
Community Programmes: Local authorities can set up programs to educate the community about energy conservation and also manage the use of electricity equally among all the people of the town. Simple measures like using energy-efficient appliances and reducing unnecessary electricity use can help make the available electricity go further.
Advocacy and Awareness: Raising awareness about the issue of electricity inequality is important. The community can organize meetings, write articles, and use social media to highlight the problem. By bringing attention to the issue, we can put pressure on authorities to take action.
The Way Forward
Addressing the issue of electricity distribution requires a combined effort from the government, local authorities, and the community. By working together, we can ensure that everyone in our town gets a fair share of electricity. This will improve our quality of life and create a more equal society.
In brief, the story of the ice factory shows how money can buy better services, creating inequality. It is not fair that one person gets more electricity while the rest of us suffer. We need to address this issue and work towards a fair distribution of electricity for all. By coming together as a community and demanding change, we can create a more equal and just society. In other words, we want equality in utilizing electricity supply among all citizens of our town.
(Based on the True Story)
