Water Supply Union tends to protesting farmers'' fields

BQ—- “At least 20 volunteers are on call in every district. In a single village from Barnala, 1,200 people have gone to the protests. These farmers are fighting for us. We deem it our job to tend to their fields in their absence.” Bhupinder Singh Kutbewal, member of Water Supply and Sanitation Contract Workers Union, Punjab

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 8

“Tusi dilli datte raho, asi Punjab vich tuhadi fasal da khyal rakhange,” (you stay put at Delhi, we will take care of your fields) — says a slogan from the Water Supply and Sanitation Contract Workers Union, Punjab.

In solidarity with the farm protests, members of the Union are providing ‘Pani Sewa’ — watering and tending to the fields of farmers participating in the agitation at Delhi borders. Having declared to extend help to farmers on social media just few days ago, the union has been flooded with calls from across the state. Some of the volunteers put manure and watered 14 acres of farmland of Darshan Singh at Dhaneth village today.

More volunteers shall be heading to Pattran in Patiala tomorrow.

Darshan Singh had gone to the protests along with his father, leaving their 14-acre land back home unattended. Worried about the fields, Darshan was considering coming back to water the fields. Another elderly couple from Pattran participating in the farmers’ agitation was clouded with worries about watering their fields back home.

Now, they no more have to worry about their crops as over 2,500 volunteers of the union are at their services to take care of the fields. The union also provides medicines, fodder etc to animals at farmers” houses. It is also holding mashaal marches in villages to raise awareness.

Varinder Singh Momi, president of the Union, said: “Sada suneha hai – nischint hoke dilli jao. Je utthe ho tan datte raho – khet asi sambh lange. (Our message is – you go to Delhi without fear and if you are already there, don’t worry about your fields because we will tend to them.) Now, people don’t have to stay back out of fear of their crops being unattended. We will do it for them. We have got calls from Barnala, Patiala and a host of other districts seeking help. Farmers unions also called us, extending solidarity for our initiative. While mostly neighbours are taking care of fields of residents, we are mostly getting calls from families who have no one left behind.”

The union has 2,500 members and messages have been sent to all district heads to keep volunteers ready whenever a call comes. The union members themselves will also head to Delhi on December 10 to participate in the protests.

Union member Bhupinder Singh Kutbewal said: “At least 20 volunteers are on call in every district. In a single village from Barnala, 1,200 people have gone to the protests. These farmers are fighting for us. We deem it our job to tend to their fields in their absence.”

Kamaljit Singh, Jalandhar district president of the union, said: “60 of my workers are ready to head out to anywhere help is needed. We are even extending help to those in need of medicines, fodder or any other help for their animals left behind.”