BKU trains women in driving tractors to lead January 26 farmers' procession

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, January 4

The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) is imparting driving training to women hailing from villages, who will then lead the procession of tractor-trolleys carrying farmers to participate in the ‘tractor parade’ in Delhi on the Republic Day.

The BKU’s local unit has roped in tractor drivers to train women in driving skills so that they can drive on the highways to reach Delhi on January 26.

The union has planned to train 500 women as tractor drivers.

“While many of these women already have tried their hands on the wheels, they need to sharpen their skills to drive the tractors on the highway and roads in Delhi during their procession,” said one of the trainers.

Sankyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of around 40 protesting unions, had announced on Sunday to march towards Delhi with a “tractor parade” on the Republic Day if the Centre fails to accept their demands.

Ramraji Dhull, BKU leader from Jind district, said they had planned to take nearly 20,000 people from Jind district to Delhi to participate in the procession.

“The women-driven tractors will be in the front row of the parade that will carry women activists,” he said.

“Some women can drive a tractor in fields to perform farming activities such as ploughing. But they don’t have the exposure of driving on the roads. We have roped in drivers to impart training for these women so that they can drive to Delhi. They are doing a good job and are quick learners,” he stated.