Farmers Movement Archive

Free ‘Kisan Mall’ set up by Khalsa Aid at Tikri border

Tribune News ServiceChandigarh, December 23Farmers at Tikri border will no longer have to jostle in a crowd for relief material provided by voluntary organisations as Khalsa Aid on Wednesday set up a ‘Kisan Mall’ to provide farmers items of daily use for free.The mall is providing blankets, toothbrushes, toothpaste, thermals, sweaters, jackets, vests, blankets, oil, Vaseline, socks, washing soap, bathing soap, shampoo, comb, muffler, Odomos, dry milk, sanitary pads and shoes. Heating pads, towels, ’Loai’, slippers, garbage bag, knee caps, tarpaulin, nail cutter, ENO and washing brushes are also available at the mall.Previously stalls for relief material witnessed crowds which prevented protesters from getting the right size, while others struggled to make it due to their age.Khalsa Aid project (Asia chapter) director Amanpreet Singh said: “Taking note of the farmers’ problem in receiving the right kind of material in the crowd, we came up with the idea of setting up a mall. The relief material which came earlier wasn’t specific. Also, there was a big section of farmers who thought it was below their dignity to join the crowd and seek help. The elderly, particularly women, found it very difficult to get the material of their choice.”A 70-year old farmer from Barnala, Ajmer Singh, said: “I had been trying to get hold of a few blankets for past many days as the distribution of the relief material is not systematic. However, in the mall, everything is organised, making it easier for farmers.”A student of Punjabi University, Udham Singh, said: “We are providing material with help of the money that the ‘sangat’ is offering to help farmers sustain their protest. We are giving farmers the privilege of choosing what they need.” A young farmer from Faridkot, Sehajdeep Singh Gill, said: “We have started the system of visiting the camps and giving tokens to farmers, who then come to the mall and fill a form to list their requirements which are provided on the spot.”

The Tribune

2020-12-24