Reiterating the commitment, Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu today said that the Punjab government is fully committed to protect the interests of the farmers of the state and action will be taken against the arthiyas giving lesser value against MSP to farmers.In a press communique issued here, he said that in accordance with the Punjab Agricultural Produce Market Rules Act, 1962, in lieu of the bill introduced by the Arthiyas (Commission Agent), it is a very duty of the state government to make a payment within 48 hours and amount is forwarded to the farmers through cheques. Mr. Ashu said, "It has come to my notice that some of the Arthiyas in the state are not transferring the payment of paddy to the farmers through account payee cheques rather they are indulging only in cash payments, which is violation of the rules. Besides this, it has also been noticed that even the minimum support price (MSP) is not given to the farmers.""Any kind of forging and cheating with farmers will not be tolerated at any cost and they should have been given the full price of their produce," taking strong exception, the Cabinet Minister warned Arthiyas, indulging in malpractices.
Bharat Bhushan Ashu also directed the officials of procurement agencies to make sure that the payments in stipulated timeframe should be made and ensure all the norms regarding procurement process will be followed in true spirit.Till October 26, Government agencies and private mill owners procured 7030525 metric tonnes of paddy in the state and the government has already made payments of Rs. 9075.09 crores to Arthiyas/farmers in their accounts.Disclosing further, an official spokesman said that out of total procured paddy, 6970230 metric tonnes crop is procured by various government agencies and 60295 metric tonnes of paddy is procured by private mill owners.The spokesman further said that PUNGRAIN has procured 2374517 tonnes, Markfed 1636181 tonnes and PUNSUP has procured 1391577 tonnes whereas Punjab State Warehousing Corporation and Punjab Agro Food Corporation have procured 711369 tonnes and 727945 MT of Paddy respectively. FCI also flung in action with the procurement of 128641 metric tonnes of paddy.