The rural and the urban are intricately interwoven in Warangal East, yet the city-farm distinctions are starkly evident on its streets.
Published Nov 15, 2023 | 10:00 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 15, 2023 | 12:14 PM
Narender Nannapuneni, the current MLA from BRS, secured the ticket in 2018, replacing the then-TRS sitting MLA Konda Surekha. However, Surekha has now switched allegiance and joined the Congress and is now their candidate. (Sumit Jha/South First)
With the Telangana Assembly elections 2023 just days away, South First is bringing you ground reports from key constituencies. This series brings you voices from the ground, the mood of the voters, and issues that matter — as well as those that don’t.
Madana Sundari Madana Sundari
Sandhedu Kurulaadhi … Jamili Paapadadho
Madana Sundaari …
(Oh beautiful one, oh beautiful one, the one with thick hair and a criss cross hairline…)
The resonant notes of this renowned folk song, penned by Guda Anjaiah and sung by the late revolutionary poet Gummadi Vittal Rao, fondly known as Gaddar, fill the air near Warangal Fort, a few hundred metres away.
Composed in the 1970s, the song delves into the oppression faced by the working class at the hands of landlords, a theme that still echoes across the fields of Telangana. Anjaiah’s poetic narrative, Jamili Paapadadho, not only refers to the intricate hairlines of women but also symbolises the arduous paths they tread daily to toil in the fields owned by landlords.
Madana Sundari Madana Sundari
Sandhedu Kurulaadhi… Jamili Paapadadho
Madana Sundaari…(Oh beautiful one, oh beautiful one, the one with thick hair and a criss cross hairline…)
These lines were written by Late Gaddar but still resonates in the fields of #Telangana. pic.twitter.com/g6hBARs6uD
— Sumit Jha (@sumitjha__) November 13, 2023
As Kanakalakshmi croons the Madana Sundari song amidst the spinach harvest, she points out how her own life follows a criss-cross pattern.
“What awaits me is the daily routine of inspecting the fields, nurturing the vegetables, harvesting them, and, finally, selling them at the Rythu Bazaar (farmers’ market). Life hasn’t changed much for me; it remains as it was. While there might not be a traditional landlord, everyone claims a piece of us, whether it’s the vegetable buyers or the Rythu Bazaar association imposing their terms,” laments Kanakalakshmi, a vegetable farmer and vendor, to South First.
In the Warangal East constituency, a dichotomy exists, with an urban landscape adorned with Domino’s, KFC, and Reliance Trends is set against the backdrop of agriculture fields — where cotton, vegetables, and paddy sway in the breeze — just a few kilometres from the city.
The lives of farmers in the Warangal East constituency are intricately interwoven, yet the urban and rural distinctions are starkly evident on its streets. Despite these apparent differences, the policies and facilities implemented in the region have a ripple effect, impacting both urban and rural dwellers alike.
The inter-connectedness of these communities highlights how decisions made in one sphere reverberate and influence the lives of everyone in the constituency.
As vegetable prices surge once again on the streets, with onions reaching a staggering ₹100 per kg and a bundle of spinach priced at ₹20, many farmers, lacking a deep understanding of supply and demand dynamics, continue to cultivate and sell their produce at rates reminiscent of five years ago.
Kanakalakshmi (right) and Sumaiah (left) in Warangal East. (Sumit Jha/South First)
Kanakalakshmi, who is from the ST Lambada community, explains the pricing dilemma, “The cost of a bundle of spinach remains unchanged at ₹5, the same as five years ago. Our profits are largely dependent on quantity; substantial profits come only with large-scale production. If we cultivate around 10,000 bundles of spinach per acre, we might earn ₹50,000. However, this is contingent on factors like seed and fertiliser prices. The maximum profit we can generate from two to three months of spinach cultivation is ₹10,000-15,000.”
Sumaiah, another farmer, emphasises the role of negotiation at the Rythu Bazaar. “We lack the luxury of time to sell directly to consumers and make a profit. We must tend to the fields, harvesting the crops. Negotiating with those who sell to consumers is a daily task. Unlike paddy, where prices are fixed, the vegetable market fluctuates daily,” she explains.
In the Khila Warangal area, Ambada, a hibiscus plant commonly known as Gongura in the Telugu region, is cultivated for various culinary uses, ranging from chutneys to pickles, appreciated for its tangy flavour. Karne Jeevitha, a 50-year-old farmer, shares that her family has been cultivating these plants for decades. However, in recent years, the production during the monsoon months has dwindled due to water inundation in the fields.
Karne Jeevitha in her field. (Sumit Jha/South First)
Jeevitha explains, “The reduction in production is mainly due to the fields being submerged in water during the monsoon. The water, which used to flow through various lakes and fields, is now blocked by buildings and roads due to the increasing urban population nearby. Consequently, water from the town inundates our fields.”
On the other hand, Sumaiah points out another challenge related to the Rythu Bazaar, where paddy procurement takes place primarily during the Yasangi (summer) season. She explains, “We grow the paddy, but when the rains start, we don’t have enough space to store the produce. Consequently, we are forced to sell it in the market. However, due to the high volume of sales at Rythu Bazaar, many times our products don’t get sold and end up getting damp, ultimately going to waste. The wasted product can only be used for animals. Procurement should be timely and the government needs to build the capacity to address this issue,” emphasises Sumaiah.
While urbanisation has brought about improvements in access to resources and facilities for those in the area as well as nearby places, it has simultaneously impacted people on the periphery. The changes in water flow patterns due to urban development are adversely affecting the traditional cultivation practices of those like Jeevitha and Sumaiah, highlighting the complex dynamics between urban and rural environments.
In Girmajipet, where the Warangal Railway Station and a Rythu Bazaar are located, 71-year-old Venkateshwaralu Sampath sits outside the Old Beet Bazar, waiting for his friends to join him for their evening drinks. However, he expresses a concern, “Many of my friends have stopped turning up for evening drinks.”
Venkateshwaralu Sampath. (Sumit Jha/South First)
The reason? “The government is relocating the Rythu Bazaar near the Model Rythu Bazaar, and they have moved there,” explains Sampath.
The Telangana government, on a mission in each district, initiated the construction of Modern Rythu Bazaars to accommodate a variety of traders, from paddy sellers to vegetable vendors. Even in cities like Warangal, they established market spaces, such as the Model Chicken Rythu Bazaar, where non-vegetarian produce can also be sold.
However, the old bazaar under the tin sheets faced changes as the government instructed traders to move to the new site. Sampath laments, “They are not even allowing us to stay inside the bazaar anymore; they have put locks on these godowns. People who have been selling vegetables here for years are now forced to move out of that space and sell on the roads.”
He adds, “Those who chose to move have shifted to the new Rythu Bazaar.” The transition has disrupted the long-standing routines and social gatherings, affecting the dynamics of the community in Girmajipet.
Sampath acknowledges that change is inevitable, but he emphasises that the cost of this progression has significantly impacted their way of life. “I have my house nearby and I’ve been working here since 1972. For the past 42 years, I’ve lived my life in this area. How can I move my work to some other place?” questions Sampath.
Closed down godowns and venders coming on street to sell the products. (Sumit Jha/South First)
He attributes this upheaval to the rapid urbanisation of the area.
Furthermore, Sampath expresses disappointment over unfulfilled promises. “There was a promise of double-bedroom houses for us, but the government has not delivered. We submitted the forms and despite 6,000 houses being built in the constituency, none have been allocated to us. They claim the election code is in place and after that, they will distribute it. If they genuinely intended to provide, they could have done so before the election. It feels like they want us to remain hopeful, vote for them, and endure another season in the rain,” he adds.
Despite Warangal being selected for various urban development schemes like Smart Cities Mission, Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the recurrent issue of inundation remains a persistent challenge in this historic city.
The allegation of usage of funds by the Congress is the major charge against the current sitting BRS MLA.
Narender Nannapuneni, the current MLA from the BRS, secured the ticket in 2018, replacing the then-TRS sitting MLA Konda Surekha. However, Surekha has now switched allegiance and has joined the Congress party and is now their candidate for this constituency.
Meanwhile, the BJP candidate from the constituency is Errabelli Pradeep Kumar Rao, the brother of BRS Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao.
Nannapuneni won the seat against Congress Vaddiraju Ravichandra defeating him with a margin of 18.5 percent vote share in 2018.
Konda Surekha, with her popularity and assertive campaigning, has begun to address the perceived shortcomings in development within the constituency. While she is gaining recognition among the people, the sitting MLA, Nannapuneni, holds a strategic advantage with the backing of Chief Minister KCR. Nannapuneni’s selection as the candidate came amid speculations that he might be replaced by some other BRS leader.
Warangal East Assembly Constituency. (Click on the image to enlarge)
With a substantial share of women voters and a significant Muslim community, the constituency has been predominantly focused on urbanisation and its related issues, along with the welfare of various communities.
“Inundation is a major problem. The BRS government in 2016 promised ₹300 crore to address the issue of waterlogging through the construction of drains, but we are still facing the same problem. While my father-in-law receives a pension and we received financial support for my daughter’s marriage through the Kalyan Lakshmi scheme, our lives, in general, have not seen significant improvement,” shares Sumaiah.
The double-bedroom housing issue is another persistent concern in the constituency. “The government stated that those without houses would receive houses. However, what about those of us who own land but cannot afford to build a house? During the Congress era, we used to benefit from the Indiramma scheme (Indira Gandhi Housing Scheme, now Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, which Telangana has opted out of in favour of providing double-bedroom houses directly). We don’t just need houses; at least provide us with some financial assistance to build them,” adds Jeevitha.
Also, Chithrapu Pushpita Laya has made history by becoming the first trans person to contest any election in the state of Telangana. The 29-year-old, fielded as the Bahujan Samaj Party’s candidate from the Warangal East constituency, is also the first trans person to run for elections in both Telugu states. Having completed her Intermediate education, Pushpita Laya is currently engaged in social work.
Sampath alleges that Nannapuneni is involved in land grabbing, citing issues with the Dharani portal. “Ask anyone in the city and they will complain about the Dharani portal. The problem is that landowners find their properties registered in someone else’s name, often close associates of Nannapuneni. In one way or another, Nannapuneni is allegedly involved in these matters,” claims Sampath.
The constituency, a blend of rural and urban populations, agricultural and service sectors, is clearly discontented with various government issues. Aspirations are visible and urbanisation has brought attention to the everyday issues faced by the people. The local population is emphasising the need for resolution of their immediate concerns over the larger political rhetoric.
