Farmers Movement Archive

1,133 protesting farmers get jab in Singhu, none at Tikri

Tribune News ServiceSonepat/Jhajjar, April 21After the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) recently appealed to the protesting farmers to get vaccinated against Covid, as many as 1,133 farmers were inoculated at the Singhu protest site. In contrast, none of the protesters from Punjab came forward to receive the jab at the special booth put up by the health authorities at the Tikri border on Wednesday.BKU leader (Rajewal) Pargat Singh said a decision was taken not to go in for vaccination after a discussion with other farm unions in Tikri. “We do not have faith in the local administration and will call private doctors from Punjab, if needed,” Pargat Singh added.After the SKM’s appeal to farmers, the state Health Department constituted 10 teams for the testing and vaccination of the agitating peasants. Health Minister Anil Vij had earlier this week announced that RT-PCR testing and vaccination would be conducted at the protest sites in Haryana.Civil Surgeon Dr Jaswant Singh Punia said a meeting was held with Dr Balbir Singh, coordinator, Sadbhawna Mission, SKM, at the Singhu border on the vaccination programme. “Dr Balbir Singh promised to soon provide us a list of farmers above the age of 45 years. If they want, we will set up another vaccination centre at the hospital for farmers in Singhu,” said Dr Punia.“We have also made an arrangement for the vaccination of farmers near Rasoi Dhaba in the Kundli area,” he said.Dr Balbir Singh, SKM medical coordinator, meanwhile, said the group was already insisting on Covid protocol and the need to wear a mask.The health authorities in Tikri said their efforts to convince the protesters to get vaccinated would continue. “Some of the farmers refused to get vaccinated, saying that they had already got the jab in Punjab. Our efforts to motivate the farmers for vaccination will continue,” said Dr Vinay Kumar, Senior Medical Officer.

The Tribune

2021-04-22