The wheat procurement in Punjab has hit a roadblock on the very first day as a large section of 'Arhtiyas' (commission agents) announced that they will be on strike till April 20. Demanding clearance of their pending payments of Rs 131 crore in addition to medical insurance of laborers, the agents went on strike in across the state.
The agents claimed that they would extend the strike if their demands are no met. They claimed the government owed them Rs 131 crore, and that they had even made advance payment to farmers in last paddy procurement which they were not being allowed to deduct this time.
The mandis across the state bore deserted looks as over 90 per cent of 'Arhtiyas' shops did not open in majority of the districts. While there was feeble procurement at Khanna grain mandi (Asia's largest grain market), districts like Moga, Ferozpur, Fazilka, Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, Muktsar and Barnala saw almost all 'Arhtiyas' on strike and not issuing unloading coupons to the farmers who arrived with trucks laden with wheat.
“We understand this is an hour of crisis and just like farmers even we are also fund-starved. We have no money to pay to the labour and cannot operate without our dues clearance. Secondly, though we and our employees including the laborers are at utmost risk, no facility like health insurance, check ups or relief package is being provided to us. We along with the farmers should be considered corona warriors as we are risking our lives to feed the nation,” said an office bearer of Arhtiya association.
Meanwhile, according to the state government, over 3,100 metric tonnes of wheat was procured on the first day on Wednesday. The state is excepting to procure 135 lakh metric tonnes of wheat in the current rabi season.
Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhusan Ashu said that the state was making every possible effort to make maximum procurement.
The Punjab Mandi Board has reacted to the strike and directed all market committees to initiate action against those creating hindrance. Board secretary Ravi Bhagat said, “We are taking all possible efforts to make procurement a success during the current crisis. Instructions have been issued for cancellation of licences and penalisation under Disaster Management Act if anybody tries to disrupt the procurement”.