Aggrieved farmer gets a helping hand

As a video showing heart-wrenching cries of farmer Jaskaran Singh of Sotha village in Gidderbaha went viral, help started pouring in from different quarters.

Jaskaran and his brother Balkaran Singh lost their standing wheat crop on 2.5 acres to an accidental fire on Saturday, part of a blaze that gutted around 70 acres in Sotha village and neighbouring Chak Duhewala village.

The family’s hardships run deep as it owns just 5 acres, half of which is now ash. Their father recently lost his eyesight and their mother passed away from cancer just months ago.

Two ASIs, Gurcharan Singh and Sarjevan Singh, donated Rs 21,000 to them. “It’s our duty to support our brothers in distress,” said ASI Gurcharan.

Jaskaran, who suffers from speech impairment, said, “The entire losses are not covered. But I am thankful to everyone who stood by me.”

Moved by the family’s plight and others like them, the villagers have now formed a five-member committee to channel donations. “We are doing everything we can to help all victims equally,” said Mahinder Singh, a committee member. Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur has pledged her one-month salary to support the affected farmers.