Protesting farmers set up school - 29th January 2021

Indian farmers have opened a temporary school, an hour away from New Delhi, at the site where they are protesting against new agricultural laws.

Housed in a makeshift tent, the school provides lessons to over 60 pupils from toddlers to teens, with the youngest aged just 3 years old and the eldest 13. The farmers had seen the children close to where they are protesting and persuaded them to attend the school. Many of the children, reliant on the local community kitchen and on scavenging recyclable bottles in the nearby slums, are experiencing formal education for the first time.

The 3 hour school day commences with a meditation session at 11am. The pupils are split into groups to be taught literacy and other skills by the school's five teachers. English has also been a hit with the kids.

The farmers and Sikh support groups keep the school well stocked with supplies. At night, the makeshift premises provide shelter for those in need.

Alongside their charitable work, the farmers' fierce battle against new farming legislation rages on. The new laws allow private traders to purchase crops directly from the farmers in the free market, bypassing state-run markets. Farmers fear these changes will result in large corporations dominating agricultural production.