SRIKAKULAM
Simhadri Jhansi, national president of the All India Khet Mazdoor Sabha and president of Andhra Pradesh Rythu Coolie Sangham, alleged that the government was encouraging ‘destructive development’ in backward areas like Srikakulam by proposing thermal, atomic power plants and pharmaceutical industries, despite strong opposition from locals to the construction of pollution-oriented projects. She alleged that the government’s policies were benefiting only the corporate sector whose intent was to exploit the natural resources while displacing tribals from their forest and hilly areas.
Addressing a public meeting organised at the Srikakulam bypass road, Ms. Jhansi, alongside A.P. Rythu Coolie Sangham State secretary Dantuluri Varma and All India Federation of Trade Unions (AIFTU-New) State president Ganesh Panda and other leaders paid tributes to tribal leaders Koranna and Manganna who sacrificed their lives in 1967 fighting the government over oppressive policies.
The leaders vowed to oppose the atomic power plant project at Kovvada, the proposed thermal plant at Vennelavalasa and the cargo airport at Uddanam in the district.
Ms. Jhansi highlighted that the lives of tribal people, farmers and agricultural labourers had not improved over the last six decades, and over 5 lakh people had migrated from Srikakulam to other places due to the lack of opportunities locally.
A.P. Rythu Coolie Sangham State secretary Dantuluri Varma said that the State government was prioritising the cargo airport in the coastal corridor in Uddanam over irrigation projects such as Vamsadhara phase-2, and other projects that would ensure irrigation facilities for nearly 3 lakh acres.
Mr .Ganesh Panda alleged that the government had intentionally weakened all labour laws and enhanced working hours to benefit the corporate sectors and diminished the lives of workers whose lives have turned miserable in the absence of job security and no wage hikes in the last one decade.
Rythu Coolie Sangham of Andhra Pradesh -Srikakulam district secretary T. Aruna said that agricultural labourers, including women, were migrating to other places leaving family and children behind due to the non-availability of livelihood opportunities in the district.
