While the fight over new farm bills 2020 has led the political parties to quarrel over who is right and who is wrong, the people protesting against these bills are the ones to face the real struggles of opposing a decision taken against them. In Punjab, a wide diversity was seen among the protestors, from old men to young students coming on the streets to show their support towards the farmer community who will have to bear the impact of the bills. A similar rise was seen in the number of female activists coming forward in this battle to support the farmers. This participation has gained widespread appreciation from people all over the country.

These women irrespective of their age are putting their best foot forward to bring about a change in the system. They believe that female involvement in the farmer’s battle can make this movement even stronger. Interesting point in this protest is that an appreciable number of men are cooking food near the protest sites to morally support the women in their joining the protest movement.

Here is a list of several women from various farmer unions who explained about the importance of women activists in such crucial movements meant to revolutionize the outlook of the society and the government.

Amarjeet Kaur – Member of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), Dakaunda.

The 65-year-old BKU chief of Barnala-based girl’s wing, Amarjeet Kaur is a former lecturer of history. She has been highly appreciated for introducing numerous girl’s wings in many villages of Barnala.

She believes in helping the girl child by making them aware of their rights and bringing about a change in society’s perspective towards women. She was involved actively in the Kiranjeet rape and homicide case to provide justice. She stated that she had actively fought in battle of Kiranjeet rape and homicide and later to get life sentence in opposition to farmer chief Manjeet Dhaner pardoned.

Jasbir Kaur Natt – state committee member of Punjab Kisan Union (PKU)

Jasbir is a 60-year-old social activist who is overwhelmed by the large number of female participants taking part in active protests such as the farmer’s battle against the new bills. She has been an integral member of ‘Istri Sabha’ for a long time now. Istri Sabha is a women’s support organization based in Punjab dealing with health and education of the girl child and offers services such as family counseling, awareness about the specific needs of a girl child among others.

In a statement, she mentions how stunned the entire organization of PKU is after seeing the response from thousands of female activists taking part in the farmer’s protests.

Harinder Kaur Bindu – state secretary for BKU, Ugrahan

Bindu has been participating as a state normal secretary for the BKU and claims to have helped in the establishment of girl’s wings in approximately seven districts of Punjab. She is 40 years old and is a class 12^th pass-out. In an interview, she shared her life story about how her father who was a social activist, was killed by terrorists when she was just 14 years old. She said that she was 14-year-old when her father was killed by terrorists during the troubled days in Punjab. She added that he was a social activist and therefore, since then, she had been hooked up to unions. Earlier, she worked with Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union and later she joined BKU (Ugrahan). She has a 12-year-old son and is a single parent.

Paramjeet Kaur Pitho – block president of Rampura Phull, BKU, Ugrahan

Another BKU member, Paramjeet Kaur Pitho is a 40-year-old activist who does intensive traveling to various villages and districts of Bathinda, Punjab. She is a mother of an adolescent and a wife to a marginal farmer.

She has been enrolling female members in the union actively from her block. She says that her husband visits farmer union conferences in close by areas and that she has taken a bigger position within the union. She confidently adds in her comment that she has been actively enrolling girl members and each day 20-25 devoted members are becoming a member of the union from her block.

The author is a student member of Amity Center of Happiness.