Arhtiyas name off strike after Punjab CM assures their cost will proceed

Hours after the Arhtiyas (fee brokers) in Punjab had launched a strike and blocked the acquisition of meals grains from farmers at mandis, the strike was referred to as off after CM Amarinder Singh held a gathering with them. The Arhtiyas withdrew the strike after the CM assured them that they’ll stay an integral a part of the meals grain procurement system. The strike was began by the arhtiyas and labour unions protesting in opposition to the state authorities’s resolution to implement the direct cost system to farmers, bypassing the Arhtiyas.
CM Captain Amarinder Singh introduced that the state authorities has determined to launch Rs 131 crore the Arhtiyas, which is due from FCI because the central company has held up the cost as a result of arhtiyas haven’t submitted required particulars. He stated that “arhtiyas play an important role in purchase of agricultural produce by cleaning, weighing, bagging & loading/unloading”, and therefore they’ll stay part of the system within the state.

Arhtiyas play an necessary position in buy of agricultural produce by cleansing, weighing, bagging & loading/unloading. My Govt will launch Rs 131 Cr to Arhtiyas, in any other case due from the Central Govt. Will additionally takeup the difficulty of 30% deduction in labour funds by FCI. (2/3)— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) April 10, 2021
The CM introduced that the federal government is beginning ninth spherical of procurement for the present procurement session of wheat. “We will continue to ensure seamless and hassle-free procurement for our farmers,” Singh stated on Twitter. Accordingly, wheat procurement by state procurement businesses began within the afternoon right now, avoiding a serious disaster.
In the assembly with the union of the Arhtiyas via video conferencing, Amarinder Singh stated that regardless of the centre’s directives to exclude them from MSP funds, “the arhtiyas shall always be associated with procurement”. He additional stated, “till I am there, you will be part of the system, and your role will always remain,”including that he would be certain that the arhtiya fee and different prices permitted underneath the APMC Act would proceed within the state.
As per studies, the State Food Department has amended the procurement software program in order that the arhtiyas will proceed to be concerned within the strategy of launch of funds to the farmers, however in a modified method. However, at current it’s not clrear from the place this cost will likely be made, as FCI will make the entire cost to the financial institution accou nts of the farmers. It will not be recognized whether or not the cost will likely be made by the state govt or they’ll make the cost from the quantities paid to the farmers.
For the time being, the CM ordered to launch Rs 131 core to arhtiyas from the state govt with out ready for the discharge of the quantity by FCI. This due quantity is from the prevailing system the place funds are made to arhtiyas, who in flip pay the farmers.
He additionally assured the arhtiyas that his authorities would take up with the Centre the difficulty of 30% deduction in labour funds made by the FCI. Reiterating that his govt needed to proceed with the present system, Amarinder Singh additionally stated, “We fought hard with the Centre, but they were adamant, and even went to the extent of threatening not to procure from Punjab if we do not implement the DBT.”
The CM thanked the Arhitya Federation for withdrawing the strike after getting the assurances for him, and appealed to them to instantly begin procurement course of whereas following the COVID-19 protocols.
Praising the arhtiyas, he stated that arhtiyas usually are not middlemen however service suppliers, including that the personal sector might operate together with the prevailing system and there was no want to alter it. He stated that the system of arhtiyas prevailed even when he was a child, and it was inexplicable why the Centre needed to ‘ruin’ it.