They went to protest against the farm laws – but died at the Delhi border
Farmers’ unions claim 70 farmers have died at the protest sites. We spoke to the families of ten. Jan 16, 2021 · 09:00 am Farmers light candles to pay tribute to those who died during the protests against the farm laws. | Kamal Singh/PTI
On the morning of December 7, Bhavana More spoke to her husband Ajay More on the phone. It had been 12 days since the 32-year-old farmer had left home, travelling 71 km from his village in Haryana’s Sonepat district to Singhu on the border with Delhi to join the protest against the Narendra Modi government’s three farm laws.
A visual from the counselling camp organised by US-based NGO, United Sikhs at Singh border. (Photo/ANI)
Now a mental health counselling camp at Singhu border to help protesting farmers deal with stress Sahil Pandey, ANI | Updated: Jan 15, 2021 23:12 IST
New Delhi [India], January 15 (ANI): A mental health counselling camp is the latest addition to the list of facilities available at Singhu border for farmers protesting against the farm laws for over a month. The camp is helping farmers deal with anxiety, distress and depression during the ongoing protest. People come here with depression due to multiple factors like debt burden, protest conditions and others. There are many emotions which farmers are not able to express wholeheartedly, so to cater the need, we tried to become a platform to help them express their feelings, Sanya Kataria, a resident clinical psychologist at the counselling camp told ANI.
NEW DELHI: Despite their rock-hard determination to sustain the over 40-day-old agitation against the new farm laws, many protesting farmers at Delhi borders are falling prey to anxiety and depression, with a few having allegedly claimed their lives fighting this prolonged battle in biting cold.
Braving the elements and the odds stacked up against them, an overwhelming number of farmers have been protesting at Singhu Border and two other sites since November 26, but their sedentary lifestyle at present and psychological sedimentation is taking a toll on their physical and mental well-being.
According to NGOs running medical camps at the Singhu Border, the nerve centre of the massive agitation, these farmers are brave in their spirit, but some have become vulnerable, facing extreme weather and may be a sense of waning hope that have translated into suicides at times.
Counselling sessions for farmers at Singhu Border to prevent burnout, suicide bids
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Last Updated: Jan 09, 2021, 04:08 PM IST
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Synopsis
Braving the elements and the odds stacked up against them, an overwhelming number of farmers have been protesting at Singhu Border and two other sites since November 26, but their sedentary lifestyle at present and psychological sedimentation is taking a toll on their physical and mental well-being.
It is yet another day of protest for the farmers in the ritual January winter, even as the eight round of talks between the farmer leaders and the Centre remained inconclusive on Friday
NEW DELHI: Despite their rock-hard determination to sustain the over 40-day-old agitation against the new farm laws, many protesting farmers at Delhi borders are falling prey to anxiety and depression, with a few having allegedly claimed their lives fighting this prolonged battle in biting cold.