A makeshift library with a wide array of books and magazines on farmers has been set up at the Ghazipur protest site, where the agitating farmers are registering their protest against the three contentious agriculture laws.
The library, which has been established by an NGO called Vikalp Manch, along with the help of group of youngsters, offers books on minimal price of Rs 5 to 30. Besides books on farmers and social issues, the library has a booklet explaining pros and cons of three laws in a bid to make agitated farmers more aware.
The selection was carefully curated by the team. It had books by the name of “Kaun Hai Iska Zimmedar”, “Pehla Adhyapak”, “Vishwa Khad Sankat”, “Tasveer” etc. Priced at Rs 5, a booklet about the three farm bills was a best-seller.
Shalu Panwar, a law graduate and daughter of a farmer from Uttar Pradesh, sat on the ground, along with other youngsters, to sell the books to the farmers. “We hope to engage with the protesters through these books. We are doing our part,” the 22-year-old said.
A number of curious farmers thronged the makeshift stall to buy the book. One such man, who is also the member of Bharat Kisan Union which is spearheading the protest at the site, said that the booklet holds relevance for those who want to know why the farmers are agitating.
Thousands of farmers have been protesting on different borders of the national capital against the three newly enacted farm laws from the last 12 days. As several talks with the government remained futile, the farmers had called for a nationwide strike on December 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The farmers are demanding the repeal of the three farm laws, expressing apprehension that these would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price (MSP) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.
The government has, however, maintained that the laws will provide farmers with better opportunities. It has also accused the opposition parties of “misleading” farmers.
–IANS
aka/vd
