'She led the collective fight of the village': 10-year-old’s 48-hour strike forces Agra admin to shift liquor shop

AGRA: A 10-year-old's unwavering stand under the brutal sun and 40℃ heat, refusing food and water for 48 hours, has finally compelled the Agra district administration to begin the process of shifting a liquor shop away from Kolara Kalan village in Shamshabad block after weeks of protests by residents failed to draw a response. Anshika Sikarwar decided to join the ongoing protest after her father, Bunty Sikarwar, fell ill on Thursday.
A local farmer, Bunty told TOI he was initially unhappy about his daughter's decision. "I wasn't aware she was planning to participate in the protest. She, however, had been discussing it with her mother. We requested her not to take part, but she refused and decided to give up food and water," he said, adding that he now feels proud that she led the "collective fight of the village."
Villagers said their protest began on April 1 when the liquor shop's licence was renewed, adding that it was located at the crossing of the road connecting the village to the main city.
"When women and young girls of our village pass through that road, they often face lewd comments and harassment by people drinking near the shop. Cases of domestic violence have increased too, as men under the influence of alcohol thrash their wives. We had been demanding the relocation of that shop for a very long time, and started this protest after our written requests were ignored," said one of the protesting women.
Even the Class 4 student hadn't been spared from witnessing these problems unfold in her village. "My parents requested me not to sit on the hunger strike, but I made my decision and went ahead with it. We have been witnessing many problems because of this liquor shop," Anshika told TOI.
She ended her hunger strike on Saturday evening after Uttar Pradesh state women's commission chairperson Babita Chauhan reached the protest site, offered her water and promised to relocate the shop.
Neeraj Kumar Dwivedi, Agra's district excise officer, said, "I was with the chairperson at the site and we have reached an agreement with the villagers. We have agreed to shift the liquor shop, which has been running at that location for four to five years, to another place that the villagers will suggest after a discussion. The contractor who runs the liquor shop has also been informed about the agreement."