A shoulder to lean on

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 8

In order to encourage farmers in their battle against the controversial farm laws, the Good Samaritans are leaving no stone unturned to provide all possible comfort to the farmers staying put on the outskirts of the national capital.

It has been over four months since the farmers have been demanding repealing of the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act.

To support the agitators, a city-based youth has come forward to supply all the summer essentials to the farmers. From collecting fans and refrigerators to medicines, Kanwar Sartaj Singh (28) has been organising various camps to receive donations for the farmers.

In the month of July last year, Singh had established an NGO called ‘EduYouth Foundation’ to distribute free stationary and books among children from underprivileged class. Himself a teacher, Sartaj said, “I was appalled by the plights of the people who were finding it difficult to purchase books and notebooks after the Covid outbreak. Hence, I launched the NGO to connect with the likeminded people who could come forward to help the needy. However, after the farmers protest was kicked off we made a group of volunteers to help the farmers. While quilts, tents, warmers and other items were in demand during the winters at the protesting sites, fans and mosquito repellents are being demanded these days.”

As per the farm unions, as many as 50,000 farmers are there at the Singhu border at present. After baisakhi, more protesters are likely to join the protest. Therefore to avoid shortage of essential commodities, Sartaj has also launched a ‘contribution drive’ to collect disposable plates and glasses, fans (roof, pedestal), coolers, washing machines, water bottles, medicines, mosquito coils and nets, packed food and others.

With the help of his volunteers, already three trolleys have been sent to the Singhu border, he has asked residents to step forward and make donations at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Defence Colony. The foundation is also going to hold a tribute march at the Model Town on Saturday.