Jatinder Preet
Tom Deiters, a student of political science, specializing in international relations at the University of Amsterdam and Suzanne Nievaart a student of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam came in the summer of 2005 to Sangrur to conduct research on farmer suicides. During their stay, they conducted countless interviews with widows, farmers, neighbours, family members, and children. One of their translators was Kawaljeet Singh, the Managing Director of the SEABA School in Lehragaga. They visited the school and were very impressed with the quality of the education and the atmosphere at the school. They termed it of an "exceptional level, considering the other schools they visited in the area". They came to know of the scholarship program at SEABA, a programme that allows children from poverty-stricken households to attend high quality education. They found that the main reason for the farmer suicides in the area is of an economic source, and there are many suicide cases in the area. The widows are often unable to pay for their children's education and other expenses, which results in the children going to work instead of going to school. They decided to sponsor one girl, who had to discontinue studies because his father and then his uncle, the remaining bread-earner of the family committed suicides (see earlier post Hope Comes to children in farmer' suicide belt ). Back home after their sojourn in the area of Lehragaga they decided to look for more sponsorships. While they are still at it, four more students from suicide-victim families have been enrolled in the school with the money they have collected.
Rashbir Singh,
5 years old, vill. Khokhar Kalan, Teh. Sunam, Distt. Sangrur
Rashbir with mother Shinder Pal Kaur and grandmother
A poor farmer family with 3 acres land holding. 18 years ago head of the family, Rashbir Singh's grand father, Chhaju Singh committed suicide by hanging himself. It fell upon Makhan Singh, father of Rashbir, to repay the family debt. He too committed suicide by drinking pesticide.
Tom Deiters, a student of political science, specializing in international relations at the University of Amsterdam and Suzanne Nievaart a student of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Amsterdam came in the summer of 2005 to Sangrur to conduct research on farmer suicides. During their stay, they conducted countless interviews with widows, farmers, neighbours, family members, and children. One of their translators was Kawaljeet Singh, the Managing Director of the SEABA School in Lehragaga. They visited the school and were very impressed with the quality of the education and the atmosphere at the school. They termed it of an "exceptional level, considering the other schools they visited in the area". They came to know of the scholarship program at SEABA, a programme that allows children from poverty-stricken households to attend high quality education. They found that the main reason for the farmer suicides in the area is of an economic source, and there are many suicide cases in the area. The widows are often unable to pay for their children's education and other expenses, which results in the children going to work instead of going to school. They decided to sponsor one girl, who had to discontinue studies because his father and then his uncle, the remaining bread-earner of the family committed suicides (see earlier post Hope Comes to children in farmer' suicide belt ). Back home after their sojourn in the area of Lehragaga they decided to look for more sponsorships. While they are still at it, four more students from suicide-victim families have been enrolled in the school with the money they have collected.
Rashbir Singh,
5 years old, vill. Khokhar Kalan, Teh. Sunam, Distt. Sangrur Rashbir with mother Shinder Pal Kaur and grandmother
A poor farmer family with 3 acres land holding. 18 years ago head of the family, Rashbir Singh's grand father, Chhaju Singh committed suicide by hanging himself. It fell upon Makhan Singh, father of Rashbir, to repay the family debt. He too committed suicide by drinking pesticide.
Sandeep Kaur, 9 years old, Vill. Lehal Khurd, Teh. Moonak, Distt. Sangrur
Sandeep with her grandmother Sujan Kaur
Sandeep's father Rohi Singh and uncle Binder Singh both committed suicides in 2002 and 2003 respectively. 70 years old Jasram Singh, grandfather, is immobile due to problem in knees. The family is left with three-acres land.
Gurpreet Singh, 3 years old, Vill. Lehal khurd, Teh. Moonak, Distt. Sangrur
Gurpreet with mother Kulwinder Kaur
Gurpreet's father Kala Singh committed suicide last year. Dhan Singh, grandfather of Gurpreet Singh is a small farmer with two unmarried daughters besides looking after his widowed daughter-in-law and another grandson, 6 years old Gurdeep Singh
Gurpreet with mother Kulwinder Kaur
Gurpreet's father Kala Singh committed suicide last year. Dhan Singh, grandfather of Gurpreet Singh is a small farmer with two unmarried daughters besides looking after his widowed daughter-in-law and another grandson, 6 years old Gurdeep Singh
Arshdeep Singh, 8 years old, studying in standard IIIArshdeep with his widowed aunt Kulwinder Kaur
Arshdeep's father Jagga Singh and uncle, Balwinder Singh both committed suicides in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Their widows, both real sisters refused any share of land by in laws family, survive doing labor and small income through handicrafts.
Arshdeep's father Jagga Singh and uncle, Balwinder Singh both committed suicides in 2000 and 2003 respectively. Their widows, both real sisters refused any share of land by in laws family, survive doing labor and small income through handicrafts.
2 comments:
Thanks for putting flesh and bones to abstractions....
thanks above all to Kawaljeet Singh of SEABA.....
right. wish there were more people to encourage people like dhindsa do what he is doing
Post a Comment