Chhavi Bhatia
New Delhi— The farmers’ protest is not a cakewalk despite the optimism and enthusiasm they are taking it forward with for the last 24 days. Extreme cold, high stress levels, hygiene—these are some of the major health issues a large number of those who are part of the peaceful sit-ins at Singhu and Tikri borders, are grappling with. While medical camps have been set up and doctors are coming forward to volunteer, the situation is alarming.
The Financial World interacted with Dr Svaiman Singh Pakhoke, a US-based cardiologist who flew down to India to help the protesting farmers—sewa as he calls it, to get a lowdown on the state of affairs. Dr Singh’s medical camp in Tikri sees a steady stream of patients cutting across gender and age every day.
- What are the major health issues farmers are facing?
To put it as clearly, the situation is concerning. Farmers are taking ill and lack of hygiene is a major contributor to that. It has led to cases of diarrhoea, gastroenteritis. We are keeping the surroundings clean but the civic body is completely apathetic. Poor sanitation is affecting women more. The elderly is another sensitive group in view of biting cold. It is not easy to bear two degrees cold out in the open.It will get colder in coming days… we are very worried for the old farmers here. Our camp gets cold related cases too regularly.
- Apart from these, what kind of other patients are you treating at Tikri?
Our camp gets blood pressure patients. These are mostly farmers who forgot their medicines back home as they left in a rush or they assumed that they would be able to come back after sorting everything in a few days. Same with diabetes patients. People suffering with gastritis are also dropping in regularly because there is so much food to eat.
- Are we dealing with mental health problems too?
Well, there is a lot of stress amongst farmers, especially the elders. They are anxious about their future and that of their children. The stress levels are very high. Making matters worse is all the propaganda being peddled that they are Khalistanis. A lot of them are retired faujis or have sons who are serving. They are pained and demoralised for being labelled as anti-national. So we keep on encouraging them to come and talk to us, have a catharsis. People are lifting each other’s spirits on their own too. Music, gurbani and shabad are also helping ease anxiety.
- Do you have new plans afoot to counter these challenges?
We will be getting more portable toilets for women and taking cleanliness all upon ourselves. If need be, we will even construct permanent toilets. Water heaters are also on our priority agenda. We have recently started giving boiled eggs in breakfast since it is getting colder. If the government is not moved by their plight and does not feel morally obligated to help the farmers, we will do it on our own. If they can feed the whole country, they can definitely sustain themselves.
