Farmer Widows Join Protest Against Agriculture Bill

On Wednesday, hundreds of women including many widows of farmers, who reportedly died by suicide over debts, joined the farmers protest against the controversial agricultural bill.

It has been over a month since Indian farmers have been protesting against the government's proposed reforms on agricultural. The farmers have expressed that these reforms will end the guaranteed minimum prices for their crops and they will be left at the hands of big retailers.

Harshdeep Kaur, a widow from Punjab state to Reuters, " If these black laws come, more farmers will go deeper into debt."

"More mother and sisters will become widows like me, " she added According to the 2018 data given by the National Crime Records Bureau, 10,350 farmers and agricultural labourers died by suicide. it amounted to 8 % of total suicide cases in India that year.

Harshdeep Kaur talked about how husband was in huge debt of almost 500,000 rupees before he decided to end his life three years ago.

The centre has been continuously maintaining the same stance where it is assuring the farmers of new opportunities with the agricultural bill. But even after several talks held between the farmers' union and the government, no conclusion has been drawn till date.

Gurbax Singh, a leader of farmer union protesting in North Delhi said, " We will keep protesting." He also talked about buses, tractors and cars are being arranged to bring more and more from Punjab. Kaur too said, " More women will come. "

Also read: These Punjabi Women Artists Are Supporting The Protesting Farmers

The farmers recently also arranged for Bharat Bandh, a day long protest where little facilities in the city including the emergency services were open. Several opposition leaders, transport unions, band unions and trade unions came in their support. These protests have also been called the largest protests in human history has the farmers are being supported by Indians all over the world.