Farmers Movement Archive

Mobile medical camps played key role in farmer agitation

Kundli-Singhu/Sonipat: Multiple medical camps, including a hospital named Llife Line foundation at Singhu border, played a major role in keeping farmers active and healthy during the year-long struggle against the three farm laws. The Life Line Foundation, one of the medical aid points, alone has treated over around one lakh farmers, including 45,000 OPDs, 4,500 IPD, 8,000 lab tests, 20,000 diabetic tests and other ailments during the past around 11 months of protest. Moreover, 3.20 lakh farmers were given free medicines and only 120 farmers had to be referred to higher institutions, said Avtar Singh, a key member at Life Line Foundation, who has been giving his services from the begining. In a situation when farmers had decided to die but had no plan to go back until demands were met, these medical camps which treated them at the border used to witness long queues every day, said Singh. Medical staff serving on the spot told the TOI that pneumonia, dengue, blunt injuries, cardiac, cervical issue, diarrhea and other ailments were treated well at the spot. As permanent medical facilities were available only at Sonipat, these medical camps played a prominent role in helping farmers fight against the laws. Some farmers also chipped in donated medicines worth Rs 40 lakh in one camp. Avtar Singh also added that the medical camp, equipped with a cardiologist, surgeon and some other specialists, will continue as long as the farmers are around.

The Times of India

2021-11-21

Chandigarh