ISAS Insights

From 29-30 November 2018, at the peak of the Rabi cropping season, tens of thousands of farmers from across India forewent their daily wages to take part in the Dilli Challo (On to Delhi) or Kisan Mukti (Farmer’s Liberation) march. This march, organised by the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (umbrella body of farmers and agricultural workers) saw farmers pushing for two main bills to be passed – the Farmers’ Freedom from Indebtedness Bill 2018 and The Farmers’ Right to Guaranteed Remunerative Minimum Support Prices for Agricultural Commodities Bill 2018.1 Within the march, largely unnoticed by the media, was a sizeable contingent of women farmers demanding the passing of a separate bill: the Women Farmers’ Entitlement Bill. Whilst they did not receive as much coverage as the men, this paper argues that the women’s fight warrants just as much attention as the men’s.