Almost 60 Per Cent Of Protesting Farmers Doing Open Defecation At Protest Sites In Delhi: Survey

A survey by Jan Swasthya Abhiyan reveals that almost 60 per cent of protesters camping in Delhi against the three farm laws are resorting to open defecation, reports The Indian Express.

The survey was conducted between December 19 and 22 at the five major protest sites including Singhu, Tikri and Shahjahanpur.

“Lack of proper sanitation is one of the major concerns at protest sites. As a result, protesters are compelled to resort to open defecation - 57.5 per cent, almost three in every five respondents have to rely on open sites for defecation,” read the survey.

Insufficient lighting, lack of solid waste disposal, water stagnation and shortage of warm clothes are the primary concerns for thousands of people protesting at the borders of Delhi since 26 November 2020.

“Only 10.5 per cent respondents said these toilets (mobile) are clean with proper water supply. Almost seven out of every ten (69.2 per cent) respondents observed said the mobile toilets are not cleaned regularly,” the survey added.

According to it, volunteers are doing the majority of garbage collection work at various protest sites.

Farmers, particularly from Punjab, are protesting against the three farm laws brought in by the Modi government. The protesters are demanding a full roll back of the laws aimed to liberalize trading and transportation of agriculture commodities.

On Sunday (17 January), Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar urged the protesting farm leaders to give up their stubborn stand to repeal the new farm laws and come for a clause by clause discussion.

However, the farmers are stuck on their demand of repealing the new laws and said that they are prepared to protest till 2024.

The tenth round of talks between the protesting farmers and the government is scheduled on Wednesday (20 January).