The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Coal belt: tough terrain for Maoists now

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Coal belt: tough terrain for Maoists now

K. Srinivas Reddy

GODAVARIKHANI: All it needed for them was to paste some posters calling for a strike and coal extraction in Andhra Pradesh stopped for 58 days, severely affecting the thermal power generation in the country in 1990. Again, it was just with some posters when they enforced total prohibition in the coal belt areas a year later.

That was the influence the naxalites enjoyed in the coal belt of the State. But more than 15 years later, the rebels found it difficult even to survive in the same areas, which provided them support, enabling them to extend the armed struggle from the forest and rural areas to semi-urban centres.

The decade-and-half period saw the Maoist movement going through the worst phase in the coal belt areas that traverse through the districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam in North Telangana.

And now with the Maoists making a determined bid to re-enter North Telangana, the coal belt areas hold the key for their success.

But reviving the workers’ movement in the coal belt will not be as easy as it was in the 90s for the rebels, considering the attitudinal change among miners in the backdrop of changing societal conditions.

The People’s War outfit, Singareni Karmika Samakhya (Sikasa), had many issues to take up such as mine safety, better working conditions and payments, exploitation of miners, rampant alcoholism, goondaism and exploitation by contractors.

Using terror as an effective tool, Sikasa managed to solve many of the problems. Just like it had organised a 58-day strike in the coal belt, it enforced a complete ban on sale and consumption of liquor.

It had even gone to the extent of fixing the rates to be collected at cinema halls, hospitals and even the prices in a hair cutting saloon were fixed by Sikasa, which enjoyed total support from workers as well as their family members.

Despite all these, Sikasa suffered a drastic downfall in the 90s.

There were several factors. The SCCL had accumulated losses of Rs 1,250 crore and was referred to the BFIR. A severe police crackdown had begun. Liberalisation policies had come into force and the miner was literally at the crossroads.

It was a question of survival for him and they did indeed come to the rescue of their company.

With better management practices in place, production increased and mine accidents came down.

With income levels rising, the miner got used to modern day comforts. More importantly, the miner appeared to have realised the futility of going on strikes.

In the current prevailing situation, the attempts to revive the workers movement certainly will be an uphill task, though the rampant unemployment problem could still be an issue to be pursued for the Maoists.

If the government does not want to leave any chance for the Maoists to exploit and regroup in the coal belt, it would be better to tackle the problem of unemployment rather than depend on the police to tackle the Maoist issue.

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