Anxiety palpable among farm labourers as impasse continues

Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, January 6

Israil (45) from Purnia district in Bihar is having only one conversation with his fellow farm labourers these days and that is the impact of agricultural laws. He doesn’t know anything in detail but believes in one thing: If farmers suffer, he will too. Israil has been coming to Punjab to work in the fields for the past 20 years.

He is working with farmer Rupinder Singh in Mirpur Maari village. Many labourers are looking after the fields of farmers and have started fearing for their future.

Israil said the Covid lockdown and farm stir had an adverse impact on them. “I don’t know how we will feed our families. We get paid by the farmers and if they will not be given their dues, who will give us ours?” he said.

Rupinder said already big machines had limited the need of labourers in fields. “Now they ask me what will happen when big companies step in and machines replace everything?” he said. Another farm labourer Munna Paswan said, “If no one will buy the farmer’s produce, how will he pay us? We support farmers.” Nakodar-based farmer Sukhwant Singh said anxiety was palpable among the labourers.

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