The international cover of TIME magazine has been devoted to the women who are leading the farmers’ movement at Delhi’s borders, where they have been protesting for months seeking the repeal of three controversial farm laws. According to the cover story of the publication, women demonstrators see the current farmer’s strike as an unprecedented chance to counter gender disparity.
TIME magazine’s international cover page for March portrayed the women who have risen as leaders during the continuing farmers’ strike. The cover depicts a gathering of 20 women at the Tikri border on the outskirts of Delhi, titled “On the Frontlines of India’s Farmer Protest.” The article discusses how women have risen to prominence in the last month or so.
The title of the article is “‘I Cannot Be Intimidated.'” I’m not for sale.’ The Women Leading India’s Peasants’ Protests“ describes how, since November 2020, tens of thousands of farmers have assembled at various locations on the periphery of the national capital to demand the abolition of three agricultural rules, and how, in January 2021, the Chief Justice of India instructed lawyers to “persuade elderly people and women to leave the protests.”
Farmers are calling for a full repeal of the recent farm reform legislation, as well as assurances that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme will be preserved. Many rounds of talks between the Centre and the leaders of the farmers’ unions have resulted in a deadlock. Farmers protesting the current laws are concerned that they will abolish the MSP scheme and corporate farming. According to the government, the laws would result in substantial changes aimed at assisting farmers and growing their profits.
Popular stars and public figures such as Rihanna and Greta Thunberg have extended their solidarity to the farmer protests in India, causing still more uproar. Soon after Rihanna and Greta’s tweets, the Centre released a statement asking celebrities to avoid making provocative remarks about India’s internal affairs.
