Poverty is more than enough to make the lure of red sanders rich forests of Kadapa and Chittoor districts irresistible for the woodcutters hailing from the forested areas of northwestern districts of Tamil Nadu.
Over the years, a number of unemployed youth of the terrain falling prey to the temptation that a trip to Seshachalam hills would bail them out of all financial troubles .
According to the police, the number of newcomers, hitting the trail to the Seshachalam for the first time, is gradually on the rise, putting their ratio at one novice for every three regulars. The recent episode of the Piler rural police arresting as many as 34 woodcutters from Salem showed that 90% of them were first-timers to the hills. Gone were the days of meistries (labour suppliers) and exporters giving hefty cash advances to the woodcutters, before they leave their homes. Now, the yardstick is said to be, ‘earn your fortune at your risk.’ Expecting bigger profit margins, the seasoned hands in red sanders smuggling are encouraging the newcomers. Senior and ageing woodcutters would sometimes ditch the ‘kids’ by becoming hand in glove with their patrons.
After finishing the errands of scaling the ridges, valleys and slopes; shouldering the burden of 40 kg log each, the real business would commence at the foothills. In the name of watching the movement of the police or forest officials, the seniors would send the newcomers to sideways, asking them to keep a watch on the exit points. After settling the deals with the middlemen and transporters, loading the logs into vehicles, the seniors would vanish from the site, leaving the newcomers in the lurch.
Getting bail not easy
On other occasions, the greenhorns would be taken to as far as Rapur in Nellore district, Nallamala of Kurnool, and Lankamalleswara of Kadapa.When captured, it is not that easy for the beginners to get bail quickly like their seniors.
Sub-Inspector (Yerravaripalem) D. Gopi said that the meistries generally develop suspicion with the senior woodcutters, who resort to changing deals with other groups for a profit. “This prompts the network operators to prefer newcomers from time to time. Another reason for selecting new batches is that they could be handled with low charges,” the official said.
