The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Surrendered naxals reel under inflation impact

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Thursday, May 01, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Surrendered naxals reel under inflation impact

S. Harpal Singh

Parents of active naxals and those who surrendered lament over rising prices

Playing host: Adilabad SP Anil Kumar serving lunch to surrendered extremists at a mela organised by the district police on Wednesday.

ADILABAD: Inflation now haunts the ravines in Adilabad district that were once trodden by dreaded extremists. That the debilitating impact of price rise does not spare anyone from the poorer sections became evident as parents of some active naxalites and a few former extremists lamented about it at the ‘surrender mela’ organised by Adilabad district police on Wednesday.

About 50 of the kin of underground activists belonging to Communist Party of India (Maoist) and some of the surrendered cadre themselves had gathered at the police parade ground for participating in the mela. Some of them spoke to The Hindu about the inflation and its effects.

“Everything has become costly. Even the rate of interest on the loan I avail from private money lenders. Until the season gone by I used to borrow only Rs. 35,000 every year and repay Rs. 50,000 that included interest. Last year, I had to borrow Rs. 50,000 and repay Rs. 75,000 at season’s end. Vaddi kuda pirem ayi poyindi (Even the interest rate has gone up)”, observed Ade Jangu of Adaguda of Narsapur (G) in Dilawarpur mandal. He had worked as member of Indervelli dalam and since surrendering in 2005, he is tilling his own lands. Inflation has chipped off the meagre profits he had derived from cultivating the 7 acres he owns.

For Goude Lachu, the Patel of Tatiguda in Utnoor mandal, hiring a pair of bullocks to plough his six acres of land has become costly this year.

“The rent for a pair of healthy bullocks used to be Rs. 1,200 for the season. The charge now is Rs. 3,000. Because of the rise in prices of everything I am unable to save anything for myself after repayment of loans. In order to meet the shortfall I also go to work as agriculture labourer”, said 25-year-old Lachu who had accompanied the old parents of an extremist.

Yelamala Rajanna and wife live in Venglapuram village under Pembi police station In Khanapur mandal. They wanted their daughter Bheemavva to come back and shoulder their burden. “Though we still go to work we need supplemental income that can be provided by our daughter. Either the prices of essential commodities should decrease or our income should increase. Without increased earnings how are we going to meet our day to day needs”, questioned Rajanna.

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