Farmers Movement Archive

Farmers act in groups to save protest & crops

New Delhi: Farmers at Tikri borders are forming groups to divide the responsibility of attending the anti-farm law protests so that the sit-in can be sustained for a long time. Farmers from various villages in Haryana and Punjab are coming in certain numbers, while others are returning home to look after the harvest, especially wheat crop that will be ready in April. Messages are being circulated through panchayats for the participation of women and youths to fill the gap.On Wednesday, the crowd was slightly thin, and the events and speeches on the main stage were wrapped up by 4pm. The number of langars has also been dipping. Balram Singh, a farmer from Danoda Kalan village in Haryana’s Jind district, however, said he had been at the site for the past eight days. “We are a group of 10 villagers and plan to stay here for 15 days. In our absence, other family members or neighbours are looking after our fields,” Singh said. Once they go back, those people will come, he added. “The government may be thinking that farmers may leave for harvesting their crop. But this will never happen as we are working in an organised manner,” Singh said.Rambir, a member of Dalal khap from Jind district, said every day at least 50 women had been coming from one village in his district. “Some of them are farmers and others are housewives. They come in the morning with food, water and even milk, and leave by the evening. They travel 200-250km in a day.” Many protesters are determined to stay back till the end. Sudesh Goyat, a resident of Hisar, said she had been associated with the cause for 75 days. “I am the daughter of a farmer and understand their pain well. I will continue my fight till the end and won’t go anywhere. Farmers’ fight is not for themselves, but for coming generations.” Gupta said that rather than crowding at one place, they were focusing on spreading awareness. “Our youths are making videos at border areas and circulating them in groups, among villagers, to motivate them to join the cause.”

The Times of India

2021-02-11

Delhi