BATHINDA: With mounting enthusiasm among farmers, especially youngsters, for proposed farmer parade on Republic Day on January 26, the demand for flags of various farmer organisations has increased manifold. The farmer organisations said they are unable to meet the demand.
The demand for badges of the farm organisations too is on the high rise. Now, many vehicles are found sporting flags of farm organisations in Punjab. Those going to various protest sites prefer to carry the flag with them.
Though the demand for flag had started rising ever since farm organisations started indefinite protests on October 1, followed by march towards Delhi on November 26, but when the call given by Samyukt Kisan Morcha for kisan parade, the demand for flags has registered phenomenal growth, said farm organisations.
Over a lakh flags have been supplied to people in the last one week. The farm organisations charge varying sums for flags from activists, which are just near the cost of the flag whereas many flags are also supplied free of cost to activists or residents of Haryana villages. The demand is such that various suppliers are feeling it hard to send the orders in time to farm organisations even though sitting near Delhi is proving beneficial for farm groups, as most of the supplies in bulk, even in Punjab, are made from Delhi.
Apart from rising demand in Punjab and at Delhi borders, the demands for farmer flags are also being made from various foreign countries.
One of the largest farm organisation BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) alone has supplied over 50,000 in the last one week. It has placed orders for 50,000 more flags.
“The demand for flags and badges is phenomenal. We have got 50,000 flags nearly six days ago and all were distributed. Now, we are waiting for the next order as people are coming to us for flags. Till now we have distributed over 2.5 lakh flags in the last three months. The flag cost us nearly Rs 30 each and we are supplying it at Rs 30 per piece. We have also distributed hundreds of flags in villages of Haryana free of cost, as they are coming forward with various goodies for farmers at Delhi borders,” said organisation vice-president Jhanda Singh Jethuke and secretary Shingara Singh Mann.
Farm organisation BKU (Ekta Dakonda) vice-president Manjit Singh Dhaner told TOI that they have distributed over 1.5 lakh flags for Rs 20 so far. “We have placed more orders. We are getting orders for flags from many countries where we are sending without charging anything, as NRIs are supporting us in various ways.”
Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee general secretary Sarawn Singh Pandher confirmed that demand for flag has increased manifold in the last few days. “We have placed orders for 10,000 flags and also equal number of badges. People want to hold flags in support of our cause.”