Vidarbha farmers demand ‘energy’ justice

Mansi Tewari

New Delhi: Carrying banners and lanterns and singing songs of revolution more than 100 farmers representing all 11 districts in Vidarbha protested at the doorstep of the Ministry of Social justice to highlight the injustice of the energy sector in their region and country.

Photo by – Deepak Malik

The farmers cued up to file their grievances on electricity poverty with the ministry. “We have waited long enough for electricity to reach us. We don’t believe that the current system will ever deliver us power. Even living next to a coal plant means nothing, I still get less than 12 hours of power in day,” says Ravi Gavai from Maharashtra Yuva Parishad.

The villagers demanded Mukul Vasnik to look into the matter and give them continuous supply of electricity. “The power ministry plans to build more large polluting power plants that take people’s land and pollute their water and harm their health, but all the power from the plants goes to cities and industries,” said Maitree Dasgupta, Climate and Energy campaigner, Greenpeace India, who is helping the group. “We believe that Mukul Vasnik can and should raise the issue as ultimately this is social injustice. We trust he can champion people’s needs,” she added.

Frustrated by the neglect of the government the villagers conducted an electricity survey from 50 Vidarbha villages which they presented to the Social Justice office, The survey highlighted that in spite of being declared as an electrified village most of the power generated is diverted towards electrifying the cities leaving the villages with a bare minimum of 8 to 10 hours a day and at odd times when it is least useful.