Even as an estimated 35000 farmers march into the heart of Mumbai, a new lease of support is snuggling up from Mumbaikars.
Across the city, individuals, resident welfare associations, religious groups and political parties lined up the roads to welcome the farmers and feed them.
“Since yesterday there has been so much help that an entire truck we had brought is still full of food and will last us another four days,” said Kisan Gujar, state president of the All India Kisan Sabha. The farmers’ association, which is part of the Communist Party of India, has organised the protest to demand loan waivers, the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, updated land records, and better crop prices.
A truck carrying food supplies had travelled with the farmers along the Nashik-Mumbai highway. They had halted periodically to cook their own food. “We did not ask anyone for help. We had come prepared to manage on our own.”
At major junctions on the highway, both rural and urban residents had come out in support of the farmers, supplying them with water, food and other necessities. This only scaled up to an astounding level when the march reached Mumbai on Sunday. Groups offering food, help and support lined the streets of the city. Resident welfare associations called for water tankers, in case the farmers needed more water.
At around 2 am, when the marchers began to walk to Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, residents of the adjoining localities were ready to distribute water, dates and biscuits.
Even on Monday morning, local worker organisations brought in breakfast and water for the protestors who had walked around 30 kilometres each day.
The marchers are mostly Adivasi farmers from Nashik, Ahmednagar and Thane in western Maharashtra, who are demanding the implementation of the Forest Rights Act as well as better prices for their crops.
The Maharashtra government has promised to meet the protestors at 2 pm at Azad Maidan, where they are currently camping. If the government does not accept their demands, Gujar said, the marchers will then definitely move on to Vidhan Sabha.
Even the famed dabbawaalas of Mumbai have been supporting the marching farmers.