Another SEZ victim dies in Mahboobnagar

Express News Service

Mahboobnagar, December 4

Two acres of land with good water source is enough for a family of four to eke out a decent living. But what will be left for them if it is snatched away for establishing a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) ?

This question haunted 40-year-old K Nagamma of Polepalli village in Jadcherla mandal for last few years after her land was taken over by the State Government for setting up a pharmaceutical SEZ a few years ago.

With financial crisis staring at her, Nagamma resorted to the extreme step of consuming poison on November 13, three days after she was thrown out of the job (she was working as daily wage labourer in the Polepalli SEZ) along with her 20-year-old son Gopi, who was employed as attender by a pharma company in the SEZ. She was admitted to a private hospital near here where she died last night.

Nagamma is among more than three dozen farmers of Polepalli who lost their lives so far after giving up their lands.Though the officials paid a measly compensation of Rs 16,000 for her land and gave a job to her 20-year-old son Gopi, the money was not sufficient to perform the marriage of her only daughter Suvarna (18).

According to the victim's family members, Nagamma married Janardhan in mid 80s and the couple were living in Polepalli by cultivating the small piece of land.After the then Telugu Desam Government announced setting up a Pharma SEZ at Polepalli, Nagamma was among scores of farmers who lost their lands and were forced to work in the same SEZ as daily wage labourers.

The impact of losing the land had an effect on Nagamma's personal life as her husband started ignoring her and the children. He became a lorry driver while Gopi was given the job of office attender.Nagamma's body was handed to the family members after the post mortem in the evening which was buried in the premises of the SEZ.

Noted social activist and convenor of the Polepalli SEZ Vyatireka Committee Madhu Kagula alleged that Nagamma died because of State Government's apathy towards the oustees of the project.