Here Is How The Protesting Farmers Are Keeping Themselves Safe From COVID-19's Second Wave

For nearly six months now thousands of farmers from states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at the borders of Delhi against three agir reform laws.

The protests that reached the doors of Delhi in November, when the first wave of COVID-19 was subsiding is still going strong at a time when the entire country is ravaged by the second wave of the pandemic.

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The protesting farmers' unions have refused various calls to suspend the movement in the wake of the second wave.

Many had expressed fears that such a large gathering amid the second wave was a recipe for disaster.

But, so far, the farmers who persisted with their protests have managed to keep the virus at bay.

Disinfecting protest sites

"We disinfected 17-km of the protest site at the Tikri border. And will do it again in the coming days as well. We have been taking all preventive measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, including distributing masks and sanitisers to the protesting farmers," Roop Singh of Bharat Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) told PTI.

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Singh claimed that the farmers have not got any support from the government in fighting against coronavirus, and that all measures taken to curb the spread of the virus at the Tikri border have been taken by them only.

"The langars operating round-the-clock are being sanitised regularly. To improve the immunity of farmers, they are being served with 'kadha' as well. Also, there are vaccination camps in the vicinity and whoever wants to get vaccinated is free to get the jab," said Kohar from Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers' unions spearheading the stir.

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"We, from our end, are neither forcing anyone to not have it or have it, this is their personal choice," he said.

Farmer leader Kulwant Singh, who hails from Punjab, said a vaccination centre is being operated at a hospital at the Singhu border.

"One of our leaders tested positive for the COVID-19. He has recovered and is now doing well. Those who are showing symptoms are getting tested for the virus. The farmers at the border are taking a healthy diet. The vaccination process is underway at a hospital near the border. I got my first jab in Punjab. To get the next dose, I will go back to the state," Kulwant said.

At Ghazipur on Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, not more than three farmers stay in bigger camps now which used to house many more before the second wave of coronavirus began.

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The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), which is leading the charge there, recently arranged around 500 cots to ensure social distancing among the farmers when they sleep.

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, who has got the first dose of vaccine, is also on the ground at Ghazipur leading his supporters, with all of them consuming 'kaadha' three to four times a day and lemonade too, BKU media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said.

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"Thankfully, there has been no COVID positive case here till now. Some people had some health issues and they have got medication. Protestors are drinking 'kaadha' and 'nimbu paani' to improve immunity, several are taking multi-vitamins and zinc pills too," he told PTI.

He said, "If you come to Ghazipur, you will see how amazingly normal the situation here is" despite the situation in Delhi, Ghaziabad and Noida looking so grim because of the deadly second wave.