THE CPI(M) firmly stood by people’s struggles in different parts of Telangana. Be it the fight of tribals for right to forest land or the struggle of a remote village for basic amenities such as drinking water and road connectivity, the CPI(M) along with other parties actively supported the people and conducted successful agitations.

Northern Telangana and Khammam and Bhadradri districts are covered with forests and are having a sizeable tribal population who are engaged in ‘Podu’, a form of cultivation of forest lands that tribal people follow. In the garb of ‘Haritha Haram’ (protecting forests), the TRS government is evicting tribals from forest land. To counter the government move, a Podu Farmers Struggle Committee was formed with non-BJP parties and various mass fronts. Various agitations and conventions were organised by the committee in the agency areas. The committee reminded the TRS government that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had himself come to Yellandu area and assured Podu farmers of resolving their problems. The struggle committee conducted a bus yatra on February 10 that ended in Yellandu. The committee demanded that ‘pattas’ be given to all Podu farmers. The committee members condoled the death of farmer Kunja Ramaiah who died of heart attack.

After a mass demonstration at the market yard, the committee organised a public meeting. Addressing the meeting, CPI(M) state secretary T Veerabhadram said the chief minister assured in the assembly that he will solve the problems of Podu farmers after seeing their struggles in Khammam and Adilabad districts. But no promise has been fulfilled so far. Forest officials have no right to dig ditches in Podu lands. He assured that CPI(M) firmly stands with tribals in their fight. CPI state secretary Chada Venkatareddy said the government is trying to divert people’s attention from the problem. He appealed to Podu farmers not to get disheartened and resort to suicide. TJS leader Kodandaram said the movement will not conclude with the bus yatra alone and that it will be intensified.

FIGHT FOR CCI CENTRE IN ADILABAD

The highway in Adilabad was blocked demanding allotment of funds to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) and opening of its centre. The CCI Sadhana Committee, intensifying its struggle, blocked the Adilabad-Nagpur highway at Jandapur. Except the BJP, all other political parties and people from neighbouring villages participated in the blockade voluntarily. People in hundreds squatted on the highway. MLA Jogu Ramanna who participated in the protest said the struggle will go on till the central government responds and provides funds to restart the CCI centre. The BJP had promised at the time of parliamentary elections that the CCI centre will be revived but afterwards they are not bothered about it. Even the state government drew the attention of the central government to the demand and wrote letters. CCI Sadhana Committee convener D Mallesh demanded that the central government fulfil the poll promise. He said that this has now become a people’s struggle.

FOR DRINKING WATER & ROAD CONNECTIVITY

The residents of Kundeshguda in Adilabad district, believing that open struggle is the only way to achieve their demands for road connectivity and drinking water facility, got united and walked all the way to the collectorate through forests and rocky hills for two days. With the support of the CPI(M), they conducted uninterrupted struggles from February 7 to 14. They compelled the district administration to respond to their demands. Kundeshguda is a tiny remote village in Gadiguda mandal in Adilabad district. There is no road connectivity, forcing people to go through forest and rocky hills. There is also no drinking water facility. The villagers united with the support of the CPI(M) and took part in a padayatra to the district centre. They set up tents before the collectorate and staged protest in different ways, including hunger strike. On orders from the district collector and the ITDA officials, three bore-wells were installed subsequently. They were also promised road connectivity, an anganwadi and other basic facilities. CPI(M) district leadership actively supported the villagers in their fight for basic amenities.