Chandigarh, April 10: Wheat procurement kicked off in Punjabon Saturday with the Arhtiyas calling off their proposed strike after ChiefMinister Captain Amarinder Singh ordered various steps to ensure theircontinued involvement in the process and immediate release of their pendingpayments of Rs 131 crores without waiting for dues to come from FCI.
On the Chief Minister’s directives, the State FoodDepartment has amended the procurement software so that the Arhtiyas willcontinue to be involved in the process of release of payments to the farmers,albeit in a modified manner, while farmers get their payments in their bankaccounts within 48 hours, as mandated by the state government.
Declaring his unequivocal commitment to safeguarding theinterests of Punjab’s Arhtiyas, Captain Amarinder said that despite theGovernment of India’s directives to exclude them from MSP payments, “theArhtiyas shall always be associated with procurement”. “Till I am there, youwill part of the system, and your role will always remain,” he asserted, addingthat he will ensure that the Arhtiya Commission and other charges permittedunder the APMC Act shall continue.
Commenting on the Government of India’s adamant refusal toaccept the state’s request for deferment of the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)system, the Chief Minister said, “We fought hard with the Centre on the issue,but they were adamant, and even went to the extent of threatening not toprocure from Punjab if we do not implement the DBT.”
The Chief Minister also ordered the Finance Department toimmediately release Rs 131 crore due to the Ahrtiyas without waiting for itfrom the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which had withheld payments aftersome Arhtiyas had failed to upload details. These Arhtiyas were probablymisguided at that time by people who wanted to play politics, he said, addingthat even though the money was yet to come from FCI, his government wouldrelease it immediately, without waiting for the same. He also assured the Arhtiyasthat his government will take up with the Centre the issue of 30% deduction in labour payments made by the FCI.
Captain Amarinder thanked Vijay Kalra, the president of theFederation of Arhtiya Association of Punjab, for heeding his government’s pleato withdraw their proposed strike and lift the grain as the farmers wouldotherwise have suffered. He appealed tothe Arhtiyas to immediately start procurement and also take care of Covidnorms. The government had to delay procurement this year till April 10 (fromthe previously scheduled April 1) on account of the second surge of Covid.
The Chief Minister said like last year, farmers will againbe issued passes this year to reduce congestion at the Mandis in view of thepandemic situation. He assured that farmer passes would be issued at theDistrict Level, strictly in consultation with the Arhtiyas who are in the bestposition to know which farmer has harvested his crop and is ready to come tothe Mandi.
Sharing the Arhtiyas’ pain, which he said he could feel fromthe bottom of his heart, the Chief Minister said he failed to understand whythe central government was treating them and the farmers in such a shoddymanner. He recalled that the system of Arhtiyas prevailed even when he was akid, and visited mandis with his grandfather, and said it was inexplicable whythe Government of India wanted to ruin it. The Arhtiyas are not middlemen butservice providers, he said, adding that the private sector can function alongwith the existing system and there was no need to change it.
Pointing to the 72% increase in farmers’ earning, heattributed it to the combined efforts of the farmers and the Arhtiyas. “Yourcontribution to the Green Revolution and filling of India’s granaries isunforgettable,” he told them, adding that he does not agree with anything thatthe Centre is doing on Agriculture. He assured that all their concerns would beaddressed, and all the commitments made to them will be fulfilled.
Announcing the withdrawal of the strike in the interest ofthe state and the farmers, Kalra thanked Captain Amarinder and his governmentfor their support in their fight with the Centre. The Centre, he said, waspenalising Punjab for the farmers’ agitation. Food, Civil Supplies &Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu told the Chief Minister theArhtiyas simply wanted protection for their business and livelihood.