On menu at farmers’ protest march to Mumbai: Khichadi Bhaat, Pithle, Vaangi Bhaaj

The farmers are seeking Rs 2,000 per quintal for onions, an immediate subsidy of Rs 600 per quintal, along with changes in export policies. (Express photo)

A large number of the participants, including Surgana resident Himtan Kumar Gaikwad, are veterans of these long marches, having participated in AIKS’s two previous marches that were held in 2018 and 2019. Gaikwad claimed that he was forced to participate in the march given the agrarian distress being faced by landless farmers as well as the delay in ensuring effective implementation of the Forest Land Rights Act by the state government.

Most of the participants who rested at Jindal Ground at Gonde village on Tuesday are self-funded, having brought along their daily provisions to sustain them during the March that is expected to conclude in Mumbai on March 17.

At this AIKS march, meals are prepared by the farmers themselves. At least 200 tempos comprising over 30 members each travel ahead of the march, and five volunteers take turns to prepare each meal of the day. These tempos have been loaded with all the essential cooking ingredients ranging from gas cylinders, salt, turmeric, rice, vegetables, and pulses. All the ingredients have been sponsored by the farmers, who have shelled out Rs 100 each.

One of the cooks who prepared Tuesday evening’s lunch, Dindodi’s Pareshram Manaji Gangode told The Indian Express, “Our tempos reach the ground beforehand and cook the meals before all the participants arrive here. We’ve carried our own pulses and vegetables too. It took us 30 minutes to prepare today’s lunch.”

On Tuesday, the lunch was Khichadi Bhaat and Pithle (staple food from Maharashtra), while yesterday it was Vaangi bhaaji and Bhaat (and Rice). “We make sure that we cook meals that are filling yet easy to prepare. For dinner too, we will be cooking Khichadi Bhaat,” said Suman Bai Gaikwad, who also helped in cooking today’s meal.

A majority of the marching farmers hailed from Surgana. Surgana resident Rama Trambak Mahale, a 70-year-old farmer who works on a land of 5 acres, said he is here to demand the government to implement their unfulfilled promises. “Back then, we were told that the land would be named after our families. We were even given certificates. But then they only prepared one 7/12 (Revenue land record) for an entire collective of farmers of their entire village.” His demand, like other farmers, has been an independent 7/12 be issued to each entitled family.

Standing strong at 60, another participant is Chandok’s Taibai Pawar, who has been farming over a parcel of 5 acres for the past 30 years while managing a household of 9 members. In addition to the allotment of independent 7/12s i.e. handover of farmlands to the farming families, she’s here to demand the provision of electricity, timely supply of water as well as a household. “We do not have a supply of drinking water. The women in our Village are compelled to travel far off distances to fetch something as essential as water,” lamented Pawar.

As the march crosses Kasara ghat, more farmers from neighbouring districts are expected to join the march. Vijay Patil, a AIKS worker, said, “We inform farmers from each village to join us. As we cross villages, not only do more farmers join, new tempos carrying utensils and grains volunteered by them get added to the march as well.”