Women Farmers Mark International Women’s Day at Panjab’s Borders

On 8 Mar, International Women’s Day, thousands of women farmers from Panjab gathered at Khanauri and Shambhu inter-state borders between Haryana and Panjab, demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and marking one year of continuous protest. As the day-long protest march ended, protestors at Khanauri and Shambhu pledged to intensify their peaceful agitation. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said in the last 390 days of Farmers Protest 2.0, women’s participation has been critical. Meanwhile, across Panjab, numerous lesser-known women showcased resilience and entrepreneurship. At Bathinda, for instance, a team of Phulkari (embroidery style) artisans revived the dying craft, training 153 women in collaboration with an oil refinery’s community initiative. In Sangrur, Inderjeet Kaur began running a canteen at a district library, using a small government loan to serve homemade meals, demonstrating that livelihood support programs can boost confidence and self-reliance. Amarjeet Kaur of Barnala, rose above family tragedy to expand farmland from 23 to 37 acres; many of her workers initially hesitated to follow a woman’s instructions but over time she earned their respect. Tragically, the day also brought grim news from Mansa, where 49-year-old Communist Party of India activist and Punjab Istri Sabha (women’s wing) District President Manjeet Kaur Gamiwala was killed in a suspected property dispute. Family members claim her activism against drugs might have provoked her assailants, who reportedly used sharp weapons. Police said a case under murder charges has been registered, naming five accused; they are searching for those responsible. Farmer unions and women’s groups condemned the attack, lamenting the violent backlash that dedicated activists still face. Panjab’s women—whether protesting for MSP, reviving crafts, or starting new ventures—demonstrated resilience, revealing that the fight for economic fairness and personal safety continues in both rural and urban spheres (earlier coverage).