Something to think about as India starts to reduce its dependence on coal.
The first map is districts affected by the 54-year-old Naxalite insurgency.
The second map shows India's coalfields.
The first map is districts affected by the 54-year-old Naxalite insurgency.
The second map shows India's coalfields.
The Godavari valley in the east of the country is central to both the insurgency and the coal industry.
We don't know that much about the Naxalites' funding model, but extortion of wealthy local businesses such as mining and coal processing and transport seems to be important.
We don't know that much about the Naxalites' funding model, but extortion of wealthy local businesses such as mining and coal processing and transport seems to be important.
The insurgency has declined dramatically in recent years but it seems to be in the coal belt that it's hanging on longest.
If the coal industry declines, does that weaken the insurgency (less money, less land expropriation) or strengthen it (fewer jobs, more discontent)?
If the coal industry declines, does that weaken the insurgency (less money, less land expropriation) or strengthen it (fewer jobs, more discontent)?
Read this thread from @rohitreads to get a sense of the major political economy questions that India will face as it reduces dependence on coal:
It's a necessary change but it must be handled carefully.
https://twitter.com/rohitreads/status/1455956654088855557
It's a necessary change but it must be handled carefully.
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