Failed To Buy Another Buffalo, Farmer With Only One Hand Ploughs Field Himself

Most of us are aware of the plight of farmers in India. Since the beginning of this year, farmers from across the country have been on strikes and protest marches, pleading the government to provide them financial assistance, among others.

When circumstances turned more dire, they resorted to such means of protest that we, as individuals, cannot even fathom. Tamil Nadu farmers have drunk their own urine, worn garlands made of skulls and held naked marches. Their counterparts in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have halted production and spilt vegetables and milk on the streets.

Amidst this, is Sitaram from Islamabad, Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh.

Sitaram owned two buffalos that helped him plough his field; one of them died. Due to his financial incapacity, he could not afford to purchase another buffalo.

As agriculture is the only source of income of his family, Sitaram took it upon himself to plough the field. Despite having only one hand, he keeps one end of the heavy plough on his shoulder and the other end on his buffalo.

Sitaram’s wife helps him in this endeavour. The couple starts their work at 8 am every day and plough the field with the help of one buffalo and their human capacity.

Adding to Sitaram’s trouble is his failure to avail government benefits. As he does not have an Aadhaar card, he is ineligible for government welfare schemes.

In response to this, the District Magistrate of Bijnor, Jagat Raj Tripathi said, “The government has provided Sitaram with all the possible help in its capacity,” reports BBC Hindi.

The Logical Indian community, while saluting the willpower of Sitaram to plough the field himself, urges the government to look into the special needs of differently-abled individuals. It is unfortunate that Indian farmers are living amidst a crisis despite being the providers of the food that we consume every day.