Farmers Movement Archive

As borders welcomed farmers, traders bore the brunt of stirs

It’s been almost eight months since farmers starting protests at Delhi’s borders and about the same time since businesses in the area have taken a hit. Manjeet Dahiya (32) — who runs a mobile shop near the first stage at Singhu border — said he has been running into losses since January. The losses have only been increasing, he said, adding: “This shop is on rent — Rs. 5,000 — which is also not possible for me to pay now.” Mr. Dahiya, who lives in Haryana’s Nahri, is also a farmer. He manages farming and shop simultaneously. “My mother, wife and daughter are dependent on my earnings. Farming helps me earn a little. I understand their [protesters’] concerns but this stir will not yield any solution. We can’t even try talking to them because they won’t understand.” He said when the protest began, the earnings were goodbut after the area was restricted for the public and roads were barricaded, “the shopkeepers here started incurring losses”. Suresh Pandey, who runs a grocery shop, said he had to take two of his three children out of the private school because he couldn’t afford fees. “My sons used to study in private school and daughter in a government school. I couldn’t pay the fees so school authorities stopped teaching them. I had no other option but to get their names struck off the rolls,” he said. Mr. Pandey’s rent for the shop is Rs. 15,000month but “I have not been able to pay rent for the last four months. I have told the owner that I will pay when I can to which he has agreed as of now. If the owner asks for rent, I have to shift my shop to a wooden cart. What other option do I have?” he asked. He said he is only able to manage food with the earning from the shop and has seven members in his family, including his parents, wife and three children. Vijay, who runs a spare parts shop in Kundli, said he had to fire four employees because he couldn’t afford them anymore. “No one comes here to buy because they get stuck in traffic for hours. There are no earnings. I don’t know how I will survive,” he said. Farmers have been protesting against the new farm laws since November 26 at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders.

The Hindu

2021-07-16

NEW DELHI