NEW DELHI (AP) – Thousands of women farmers demonstrated and hunger strike in the capital of India on Monday in protests on International Women’s Day against the new agricultural laws.
The demonstrations were held in several locations on the outskirts of New Delhi, where tens of thousands of farmers camped for more than three months to protest laws that say they will leave them poorer and at the mercy of large corporations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government says laws are needed to modernize agriculture.
About 100 women wearing yellow and green handkerchiefs were sitting cross-legged in front of an improvised stage in Ghazipur, one of many protest sites. Holding the flags of the agricultural unions, they heard the female leaders speak from the stage and shouted slogans against the laws. At least 17 participated in a one-day hunger strike.
“The women are sitting here, outdoors, in protest, but Modi doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about mothers, sisters and daughters. He doesn’t care about women. That is clear, ”said Mandeep Kaur, a farmer who traveled 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) from the state of Chhattisgarh to participate in the protests.
Several rounds of negotiations between the government and farmers have failed to end the impasse. Farmers rejected an offer by the government to suspend the laws for 18 months, saying they would accept nothing less than a complete repeal. They fear that the laws will make family farms unfeasible, eventually leaving them landless.
Women were at the forefront of the protests, which represent one of the biggest challenges for Modi since he took office in 2014. Many accompanied thousands of farmers who arrived at the protest sites in late November and have since organized and led demonstration marches. protest, run medical camps and huge popular cafeterias that feed thousands of people and increase demands for gender equality.
“Today Modi is sending wishes to women across the country on International Women’s Day. Who are these women to whom he is sending wishes? We are also like his daughters, but he clearly doesn’t care about us, ”said Babli Singh, a farm leader.
International Women’s Day, sponsored by the United Nations since 1975, celebrates women’s achievements and aims to promote their rights.
Women often incorporate what agricultural experts call an “invisible workforce” on India’s vast farms that often go unnoticed.
Nearly 75% of rural women in India who work full time are farmers, according to the anti-poverty group Oxfam India, and the numbers are expected to increase as more men migrate to cities in search of jobs. However, less than 13% of women own the land they cultivate.
Demonstrations were also held at Jantar Mantar, an area of New Delhi near Parliament, where about 100 women held signs denouncing the new laws and calling for their withdrawal.
“Today we are under attack on all fronts. As women, as peasants, as workers, as young people and students, “said women’s rights activist Sucharita, who uses a name.” We are opposed to laws that have been passed in favor of companies. “
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Associated Press video journalist Shonal Ganguly contributed to this report.