Farmers Movement Archive

On bone-chilling night, farmers huddle under tarpaulins and plastic sheets to stay warm

With traditional braziers lit using wood, copious amounts of tea and fistful of almonds, farmers protesting at Delhi’s Singhu border huddled among the mattresses stacked against the wheels of trolley, and layers of tarpaulin and plastic sheets spread out over the 6km-long protest site to brave the coldest night of the season so far.On Tuesday, the minimum temperature in Delhi dipped to 4.1 degrees Celsius, 4 notches below normal. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the minimum temperature is expected to remain below normal throughout week, with the minimum temperature ranging between 4 and 7 degrees Celsius. The effect of the biting cold was quite visible at the protest site in Singhu on Tuesday. Out came blankets, plastic sheets, and empty fertilizer bags, stitched together to form makeshift curtains that covered the tractor-trolleys, which have been converted into temporary farmer homes. Usually, these “curtains” are lifted in the morning. Those who were unable to catch some shut-eye at night due to the cold were seen dozing inside the trolleys during the day. Several non-government organisations (NGOs) workers and even langars (community kitchens) also distributed almonds among farmers on Tuesday.Gurtej Singh, 26, a young farmer from Jatana Kalan village in Mansa district of Punjab, said youngsters mostly slept under the tractor-trolleys while the elderly slept inside. “We tied multiple layers of plastic and tarpaulin sheets around the trolleys to keep the cold away. While one end of the trolley is lined with mattresses, the open end was covered with plastic sheets that acted like a thick curtain to keep the draught out,” he said.But sleeping on the road when the temperature is just 4 degrees Celsius, he says, was by no means easy. “We had stacked mattresses on both sides of the trolley and used two blankets. Since the langars are open till 2am, we kept sipping on hot tea and warm water,” Singh said.Amninder Singh, 26, another young farmer from Raikot in Ludhiana district, said, “Tea is the Indian antidote to the chilly weather. We also made bonfires at various places and set up chairs around them so that those feeling too cold could warm themselves. Many also slept in cars or night shelters set up by the NGOs.”Several farmers, a few of them elderly, slept in temporary makeshift structures erected using bamboo and tarpaulin sheets beside their trucks. Jaspal Singh, 70, a resident of Kalour village in Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab, was among those who sheltered thus. He slept on the road with at least five others of his family with nothing but a tarpaulin covering them from all sides.“Farmers are used to harsh weather. While waiting for our turn at sugarcane factories, we spend our nights out in the cold. Here, we at least have mattresses, foam, blankets, and a space to lie down. I don’t sleep inside the tractor because a lot of men from our village sleep more comfortably inside. We have been eating things like almonds and jaggery to keep our bodies warm,” he said.Security personnel stationed at the barricades also had to brave the cold night with just braziers for company. Two enclosures have also been created for personnel as a protection against the chill.“We only have our jackets and the iron braziers to fight the cold. We stayed up all night having tea made by either our own people or farmers,” said a police personnel, requesting anonymity.Additional deputy commissioner of police (Rohini) Jitendra Kumar Meena said two waterproof tents have been pitched at Singhu border for security personnel. “Another tent is being placed towards the rear of the protest venue. Apart from the tents, we have arranged braziers for the personnel to use at night. We have also installed a public address system that has a reach of nearly two kilometres to address personnel deployed at the protest venue,” he said.

Hindustan Times

16-12-2020

Delhi