The people of Jangalmahal, once a Maoist hotbed before turning into a Trinamool Congress bastion catapulting Mamata Banerjee to power, are being made to pay through the noses for responding to what they term “Didi’s brand of politics.”As a part of lalgarh movement Banerjee, then the Opposition leader, had 2008 onwards called upon the people to boycott power bills as a mode of protest against the alleged left misrule. The people obliged in great numbers.
As the system of enjoying free power continued for 6-7 years the Government suffered losses in crores. “Today the poor people of Jangalmahal, most of who barely can manage half day’s meal, are getting electricity bills worth several thousands of rupees,” even as a cash-starved Government’s power department has started dispatching power bills including the arrears to the consumers, complains Bijan Soren, a local from Belpahari.
Kanai Soren, a daily wager of Belpahari, has received a bill worth `65,000 while Harekrishna Sabar of Jamboni has been slapped with a bill of Rs 21,000. His only source of income is gathering dry woods from the forests.Most of the tribals here belong to below-poverty-line category and often live on field rats and Rs 2-a-kag rice scheme.
“When we responded to Didi’s call and voted her to power then her Government should waive the power bills. This is a clear betrayal of the common people of Jangalmahal,” says a block level Trinamool worker who “find it difficult to maintain my organisational network. The left and the BJP are taking advantage of this situation.” In normal situation each household pays a monthly bill of not more than Rs 200 in these areas.
The huge power bills have hit the people of Binpur, Belpahari, Banshpahari, Jhargram, Jambani and other villages. A consumer from Jhargram has received a bill of Rs 2.41 lakhs while another from Belpahari has been slapped with another worth Rs 61,000.“Those who wanted to pay their bills were either stopped from doing so or they did not receive their bills as the electricity department people never turned up lest they were killed by the Maoists and those who supported the Trinamool Congress,” says a schoolteacher from Jhargram.
“We will not pay the bill and start a movement if the Government does not waive the dues as we did not pay our bills or could not pay our bills because of Trinamool Congress. The bills either did not come or the partymen stopped us from paying them. If the Government forces us to pay the bills or disconnects our power lines the people will arise once again,” says Madhumita Dey a local.