NEW DELHI, Oct 4: A 71-year-old farmer from the Nizamabad district of Telangana ended his 12-year-long vow of walking barefoot; after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the setting up of a National Turmeric Board in Telangana during his recent visit to Mahabubnagar.
“I have vowed to support the Turmeric Board, and for the past 12 years, I have been walking barefoot and fighting for it. I visited many villages and met with farmers in each one, even staging a dharna in Delhi. We raised the issues of turmeric farmers with central government officials, and they have considered the establishment of the Turmeric Board,” Manohar Reddy, the farmer said.
A native of Palem village, Manohar Reddy, who himself is a turmeric farmer, decided to forsake footwear in 2011, vowing not to wear them until the National Turmeric Board became a reality.
“Manohar garu visited every village and held discussions with turmeric farmers. He fought for the Turmeric Board with both the state and central governments. He also led a dharna in Delhi. Because of his hard work, Prime Minister Modi announced the Turmeric Board. We are so happy,” his farmer colleague Malla Reddy said.
Reddy’s journey may seem unconventional, but it stemmed from a deep-rooted commitment to the cause of turmeric farmers.
(Manas Dasgupta)
