Dedicated To Serve Striking Farmers: Former trainee nurse turns to tailoring for singhu protestors

New Delhi: Agitation against the farm has seen participation of individuals not only from agriculture sector but from people of all walks of life. Such is the story of 61 years old Mohini Kaur, a former trainee nurse, who has decided to dedicate her time and services at the Dharna site of Singhu border as she relentlessly stitches clothes for the residing protestor at the camp.

Mohini decided to become a part of the movement on November 30th, 2020, five days after agitation against farm laws broke out across the nation. According to the farmers, Mohini is one of those few people who has been stitching and sewing clothes for free for thousands of protestors everyday since the last 10 months.

"I get a pension of Rs 21,000 and spend it here to get stitching material. I used to stitch close to a dozen clothes per day but because of the cataract, I had to hire a local tailor to help me out. This is my way to contribute and be a part of the agitation," Mohini told Bizz Buzz.

Prior to joining the movement, Mohini says that she used to spend her time stitching clothes for free at different places including Delhi's famous Gurudwaras - Rakab Ganj, Gurudwara Sis Ganj and Gurudwara Nanak Piao Sahib.

"I lost my husband due to brain hemorrhage in 1984 and then a son over a decade ago. I have a daughter but she lives with her husband in Delhi. Whatever life I have left, I shall dedicate it to this cause," she said while expressing her helplessness.

A resident of New Delhi, Mohini says that her life hasn't been easy ever since her husband died. Shortly after her husband's demise, she sold off her two-bedroom house in Shalimar Bagh to pay off the medical debts.

While braving the elements of old-age, Mohini lives with physical challenges such as dementia, cataract and loss of right ear. "I met with a car accident shortly after my husband died and has to be rushed to the hospital with severe injuries throughout my body. The doctors had inserted rod on my right hand to salvage it but due to the nature of injuries, I lost my right ear."

At present, Mohini, like all the other protestors, sleeps at the protest site on a cot and has set up 6 feet by 6 feet of small space to stitch clothes of the campaigners. When asked if she fears for safety and uncertainty, Mohini says that although her daughter discourages to participate in the movement, she feels more at home here amongst the protestors than at her one room home near Delhi Bypass.

"I've left the house to known house helpers. I go in once a month to check on the condition of the house. But I feel safer and more secure here. Throughout the night men patrol camping area against theft and during the day engage into cooking and cleaning the premise," she added.