Farmers Movement Archive

Women take centre stage to give new energy to farm struggle

BATHINDA: Tens of thousands of women from every nook and corner of Punjab roared at the protest sites on the borders of national capital while managing farmer protests on International Women Day on Monday. The women spoke about the role of women in the farm protests and pledged to continue fighting for the rights of farmers till the Central government does not agree to repeal the three contentious farm laws and give legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) on all crops and ensure state procurement. The women were made to control the stages at Pakora chowk at Bahadurgarh, Tikri border and Singhu border. Though many started returning after observing the day, many others decided to stay back and continue participating in the protests on the borders. Most of the women who addressed the protesters were enthused with Time magazine giving wide space to role of women in India’s historic farm struggle and stressed the need to contribute in such a big way that even the Central government recognises their role and also feels the heat. The women gave a call to strengthen the struggle to end the discrimination and inequality against women and proclaimed to be resolute in the struggle against the farm laws till they attain victory. They also discussed the role of women in different social and political struggles in the history of the country and stated the flood of women infused a new spirit in this farm struggle. Apart from the protests on Delhi borders, the women performed the lead role in the protests at several places across Punjab at toll plazas, outside railway stations or business establishments of some corporate houses. Most of the women wore basanti dupattas at Pakora chowk protest site of farm organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) whereas at Tikri and Singhu borders, many of the women wore green dupattas. Women farm activists of BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) Harinder Kaur Bindu and Paramjit Kaur Pitho said, “The participation by women in such a large scale turned the Women’s Day into a historic occasion and if even now the central government could not feel the pain the farmers, then this government will be known in the history as the government without a heart and soul. The farmers have faced harsh winters on the roads for three months and now are ready to face the onslaught of summer and government should show some sensitivity and come out of its arrogance.” Sanyukta Kisan Morcha leader Darshan Pal said no struggle can be successful without the participation of women. Their role needed not only to strengthen the struggles, but it is also essential to ensure gender equality.

The Times of India

2021-03-09

Amritsar