Families in penury, Mother India’s daughters pull ploughs in the fields of MP

The memorable scene of Mehboob Khan’s film Mother India, where actress Nargis was seen replacing the ‘ox’ while ploughing her field due to poverty, became a reality in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam and Agar-Malwa districts.

A debt-ridden farmer, Jagdish Dhakkad, ploughed his field with the help of his daughter Radha Kumari (20) as they had no money to hire a tractor or buy bullocks.The shocking incident occurred 340-km away from the state capital at Sherpur village, situated on the outskirts of Alot panchayat of Ratlam District.

Due to the lockdown, the 49-year-old farmer was left with no money to plough his one acre of land for monsoon crops. Left with no option, Jagdish with help of his daughter Radha ploughed the field.

“Neither I have money to purchase the ox nor to hire a tractor,” said Jagdish. He broke down while narrating his ordeal. “Normally, one needs fuel worth around Rs 300 to Rs 400 to plough an acre, but I do not have even that much of money,” he added.

The three months of lockdown and skyrocketing prices of fuel are making life difficult for farmers in the region. He said, “The constant increase in fuel prices is making our lives hell. From seeds to fertilizer, everything has become costlier. We are hardly making both ends meet.”

“I have taken loans from a few relatives and an pinning all hope on the monsoon crops to repay the debt. I plead with the government to come to our rescue before it’s too late,” he added.

When asked, Radha Kumari said she was happy to serve her father in times of distress. “The government must look after the poor farmers and reconsider its decision of fuel price hike, or else it would be very difficult for agriculture workers to graze the land,” she said.

Talking about his daughter, Jagdish said that she wants to attend college for higher education, but that is not possible as they are penniless.

A similar incident was reported from Mathurakheda village of Agar-Malwa district.

Two daughters of 65-year-old Kumer Singh - Jumuna (18) and Madhu (17) - ploughed two acres of land because their father had no money to hire the tractor or buy bulls.

Due to financial crisis, both the daughters of Kumer Singh have dropped out of school. The elder daughter left school in class seven, while younger daughter Madhu stopped going to school after the fourth.

“Our savings had dried up during the lockdown. I am left with no money to hire a tractor or buy the bulls. I went to the sarpanch for help but he declined,” said Singh.

“If monsoon crops sell well, I marry both the girls off,” he added.

A villager Kamal Singh informed that Kumer Singh's home was drastically damaged in the recent thunderstorm. The villagers helped his family to rebuild the home.

Taking a cue from the incidents, farmer leader and former chairman of district cooperative Bank, Ratlam, Virendra Singh Solanki, came down heavily on the state government, saying that the incident was enough to prove the government's failure.

“At a time when the government emphasised on Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and planned various schemes for the upliftment of the girl child and is talking about women empowerment, the reality on ground zero is shocking,” Solanki added.

“Even after 70 years of Independence, a farmer is forced to use his daughter to graze the land. Nothing can be more shameful than that. The district collector should immediately help them,” Solanki demanded.

Reacting over the incidents, farmer leader Shivkumar Shukla said, “These are tragic incidents. The lockdown has left farmers penniless. The government should take immediate action to help such needy people.”

When contacted, Additional District Magistrate, Ratlam, Jamuna Bhide, said, “The administration was not aware of this incident. It's a shocking incident, we will try to reach out to the farmer and aid him.”

State Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel did not respond to phone calls despite several attempts.