Tents have already crossed the 200 figure from just 50 on December 12.
New Delhi:
A drop in the minimum temperature in the capital and dozens of women joining the ongoing farmers’ protest has resulted in a makeshift “tent town” propped up at a gas pump in the Singhu border area.
While tractor wagons continue to be the first sleeping choice for most farmers camping on the Delhi-Haryana highway, insulated tents are proving to be a welcome addition to provide protection against the winter cold and likely rain.
The tents, which most of the time are filled to capacity, have already crossed the 200 mark from 50 on December 12.
They come in three different sizes, depending on which one is available for two, three, or five adults along with children.
While the largest tent available is said to accommodate five people, the farmers, after sitting on carts for more than three weeks, have now learned the skill of tucking in and don’t mind sharing it with more people if necessary.
“We knew we had to set up the tents. The problem was always the space required. That’s when we talked to the owner of the gas pump, and he agreed. The next day, December 12, we had about 50 tents installed. and from then on the number is only increasing, ”said Jatin Singh, who manages the space with his team of six.
He said they now have 200 tents that provide the protesters who pitch them wherever they find space. A tent is available by providing a refundable security fee of Rs 1,000, Singh said.
The waterproof tents, provided by the NGO Fundación Hemkunt, come with a set of mattresses and blankets. In addition, the gasoline pump provides water for bathing and also has a function for charging phones or laptops.
Although there is no departure time, the established entry time to use the shelter of the tents is at 6 pm
Balveer Singh, 65, who comes from the Moga district of Punjab, said it has been a week since he has been staying here in these tents and he has nothing to complain about.
“Sona langi jaanda hai aje tak (It has been comfortable so far). I also stayed in the cart, and then I found out about these stores and came here. Since everything is covered, it is not very cold here.
“I keep my luggage here, I go to eat langar, I meet people who go in carts, I talk to them and I go back to rest in the afternoon and at night,” said Singh, who is happy to hold four people in a store basically destined two.
These tents are also a boon to the many female protesters who admitted to having a sense of privacy in them, something they say was wrong with tractor cars.
Ramanpreet Kaur (29) and Sukhwinder Kaur (53), both from Bathinda in Punjab, were visibly happy to find accommodation in one of the tents and said that they can now dress without worrying about privacy and not having to carry their luggage everywhere. . .
“Of course it is less windy (in the tents) and you are not bitten by mosquitoes since you are covered. More importantly, you can close this tent and change your clothes here without worrying about anything,” Ramanpreet said. , who has been protesting here since November 30.
“This gives you a sense of privacy and security, which is very important. So yes, I am happy to find a tent here,” he said.
Tens of thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been staying at the border points of the national capital since late November to protest against the three controversial agricultural laws recently introduced by the central government.
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