Farmers Movement Archive

Finding warmth in the big tent, a city within a city

With the mercury dipping in the national capital, a “tent city” has come up inside a petrol filling station at the Singhu border to provide accommodation to the farmers who are protesting against the three controversial agriculture laws. Rows of green and grey tents have been set up to provide relief from the cold wave to hundreds of farmers who are reaching Delhi each day. Currently, around 150 waterproof and windproof tents with the capacity to accommodate nearly 500 people have been installed. The insulated tents were brought in when several farmers got drenched in rain last Saturday, said Jatin Singh, one of the managing team members for the arrangements. Varying capacity “Blankets and mattresses come with the tents itself. While some of the tents can accommodate up to five people, there are a few others which can accommodate around 2-3 people,” Mr. Singh said. While a “check-in” time of 6 p.m. has been set, women and children can take up the accommodation at any point of time, Mr. Singh said. “This facility is primarily for those who do not have their own trolleys and tractors where they can rest and spend the nights,” explained Mr. Singh. The tents are being provided by an NGO, Hemkunt Foundation, which is supported by the sangat (community). Lovedeep Singh, a student of Patiala University, who has begun volunteering at the tent city said, “I reached the border five days back with my mother and sister and we have been camping here since then. All kinds of facilities, including water and sanitation, have been provided here.” Residents of two villages in Sirsa — Gudiakhera and Dhukra — have arranged for blankets and quilts. Volunteer Suresh Dhaka said, “Some people are sending wheat and milk, others have sent medicines.”

The Hindu

2020-12-18

New Delhi