Farmers Movement Archive

Agitating Terai farmers plant saplings, stop use of plastic at Ghazipur protest site

yyyyyyyyyyyRudrapur: The farmers of the Terai region of Uttarakhand, who have been protesting at the Ghazipur border against the three contentious farm laws for nearly two months, have now started a drive for environmental conservation at the protest site. In the last few days, the agitating farmers not only planted saplings but have also stopped using disposable items made of plastic and thermocol. Talking to TOI over phone, the spokesperson of the ‘Kisan Andolan Committee Ghazipur’, Jagtar Singh Bajwa, said, “It has been decided by the committee that we will not be using non-reusable disposable items during the everyday ‘langar seva’ (community kitchen service) for the thousands of agitating farmers here. We will now be using plates made of ‘pattal’ (leaves). Also, steel glasses will replace the plastic water bottles, which are harmful to the environment.” Bajwa said that the farmers are concerned about the conservation of the environment. “We treat nature as our mother which feeds us and it’s our duty to switch to environment-friendly practices. We have also commenced a massive plantation drive and have planted saplings of various breeds at the Ghazipur border. Farmer groups have also been formed to plant saplings everyday and take care of them,” he added. Meanwhile, Tejender Singh Virk, president of the Terai Kisan Mahasabha, said that farmers have made full preparations for the tractor march on Delhi’s outer Ring Road on the occasion of Republic Day (January 26). “The farmers have pledged for the success of this protest rally towards Delhi. The number of volunteers has also increased to prevent infiltration of any unwanted or anti-social elements. These farmers volunteers will make all kinds of security arrangements so that no one deliberately maligns the farmers' movement,” Virk added.

The Times of India

2021-01-23

Dehradun