Farmers Movement Archive

'My emphasis is on feeding under-privileged'

THESE days I often tell my son, Arjun Partap Bajwa, that the virus is indeed the worst thing to happen to society. An eternal optimist that he is, he reminds me that hope is important because it makes the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we are in a better position to bear a hardship today.Recently, armed with a curfew pass, I had taken a round of all the three grain markets that fall in my area — Qadian, Kahnuwan and Dhariwal. I held discussions with farmers and Mandi Board officials and told them to follow the social distancing norm.A few years ago, my family had established a social organisation called ‘Satbachan’. Through it, I have distributed as many as 10,000 ration kits, each kit costing Rs1,000. My particular emphasis is on feeding the under-privileged. Before the lockdown, these people could barely afford two square meals a day. You can very well imagine their plight post the lockdown.‘Satbachan’ has established pickets outside the three grain markets. I have also instructed officials to spray disinfectants every day.(AS TOLD TO RAVI DHALIWAL)

The Tribune

2020-05-03