Ghaziabad: Sweaters, blankets, shawls, shoes and even washing machines… help is pouring in from all quarters for the farmers protesting at UP Gate. At a time the mercury levels are competing with each other every night to take the plunge, businessmen, NGOs and even students have come forward with warm clothes and other such protective gear.
These apart, about 350 water- and air-proof tents are being set up along the Ghaziabad-Delhi lanes of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway for the farmers to spend the chilly nights free of cost. All they would need is just a phone number and a photo ID card to get access to the tents.
A small group of businessmen from Udham Singh Nagar, who helped fund the tents, said they came up with the idea after learning that a number of farmers had not been allowed by police to bring along their belongings. The tents are equipped with phone chargers, mattresses and blankets and can withstand all types of weather.
Not just locally, the farmers’ groups have also been getting help from their NRI relatives and friends. Baljeet Singh Sandhu, a farmer from Jalandhar, said a number of his friends were eager to provide funds and ensure that those camping at the protest sites did not face any problem. “We have so far brought 500 blankets, 700 shawls and over 800 pairs of shoes and slippers. A lot of people here are struggling without them,” Sandhu told TOI.
Several other organisations are not only providing medicines, winter clothes and blankets, but also asking farmers to register their requirement at their counters so that they can arrange for the items within 24 hours.
Rajat Cheema from Bilaspur in Uttarakhand, who is a member of the Naujawan Kisan Sahayata Kendra, an organisation of students of Panjab University, said, “We have decided to help the farmers in every way. Any farmer can tell us about their requirement and we will try to fulfil them. We have been working at the Tikri border for the past 22 days and have come here from there. We are also providing medicines for common ailments.”
Jaswinder Singh, a businessman from Chandigarh, has even brought water heaters and washing machines. Singh does not belong to any organisation, but he and his friends have decided to help the farmers in their cause. Singh said that prior to coming to UP Gate, they had spent two days each at the protest sites in Tikri and Singhu borders.