"Women Farmers' Day": Women Take Centre Stage At The Farmer's Protest

Women farmers took the center stage on Monday at the ongoing farmer's protest in the Delhi borders. They led the protest today by managing the crowd, collecting donations as well as handled backstage responsibilities marking the day as 'Women Farmers' Day'.

"The stage at the Singhu border was managed by only women and all the speakers were women. In different places across India, women farmers organised rallies, dharnas, and meetings to mark the day," said Kavitha Kuruganti of the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC). Rukshmanii Kumari, President of All India Professionals' Congress of Rajasthan also joined the protests on January 18.

The leadership of women farmers was especially seen at the Singhu border. Regarded as the epicentre of the agitation, women farmers rose to take control of jobs that were done by men till now. This included regulating entry at select locations, coordinating among volunteers, and ensuring that the day's proceedings went smooth.

#WomenFarmersAgainstFarmLaws

Women from various parts of the country had already joined the protest that has passed over 50 days now. Now, marking the day as 'Women Farmer's Day', these ladies have truly made their mark in what seems to be a historic protest the country has witnessed.

"I am responsible for coordinating among volunteers…. I am also helping out the elderly," a female protester at Singhu remarked proudly.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha is a joint forum of the protesting union that is spearheading the agitation. It was their call to observe the day as 'Mahila Kisan Diwas'. Responding to this initiative, a large number of women's organisations across Delhi extended their support.

All India Democratic Women's Association released a statement highlighting the disadvantages for women due to the farm laws. It claimed that an average women's life is already severely impacted by "a crumbling public distribution system, skyrocketing prices of essential commodities, rising indebtedness, dispossession in the case of women from poor peasant families, loss of wages with discontinuation of employment under MNREGA, making it impossible to make both ends meet." Hence the statement reflected that the three farm laws will only add to this misery of women.

Kisan Ekta Morcha, the official Twitter account of the farmer's union had called support through social media asking everyone to use the hashtag #WomenFarmersAgainstFarmLaws to honour the day. Besides, they shared the facts about women's contribution to the farmer's movement.

Also Read: #KisanMuktiMarch: Women Are Farmers Too & It’s Time To Hear Them

More on Farmers' Protest

The three farm laws that came into effect in September 2020 are against the interests of the farmers. These laws ultimately weaken the minimum support price and favour big corporations only. Citing their disappointment the farmers started protesting in the Delhi borders.

Several rounds of discussions have already taken place between the farmer's unions and the government. But the Centre has not agreed to their appeals and have remained silent to their demands. However, even after over 50 days of protest braving harsh weather, the farmers are determined to demand repeal of the three laws.

Also Read: Farmer’s Protest: Sonia Gandhi Hits Out At Centre Calls Them ‘Arrogant’, Demands Repeal Of Laws