Chandigarh Government procurement of wheat will begin in the mandis of Punjab from today, but the protestors have decided to go on strike in protest against the direct payment to the farmers. Even on Friday, no solution could be found for this issue. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has appealed to the artisans not to go on strike.
Today the audiaries are meeting in Ludhiana. After this, we can talk to the CM again, in which some solution is expected. The Punjab government is yet to take a final decision. However, the three ministers who spoke to Union Minister Piyush Goyal have made it clear to Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh that Punjab has no choice but to adopt a system of direct payment following the Centre’s stand. On the appeal of the Chief Minister, Vijay Kalra, Head of the Adhati Association, who was present in this meeting, said that he himself cannot take a decision not to go on strike. They will have to talk to the district heads.
On the other hand, the Ravinder Cheema Group of adhatiyas has made it clear that there is resentment among the adhatiyas by the attitude taken by the central government regarding the direct payment. Therefore, they have decided that they will neither get wheat cleaned in the mandis nor will they be transported in trains for storage. If the government wants to get the grain through its agencies. Vijay Kalra said that after the meeting in Ludhiana on Saturday, the Chief Minister will be made aware of his decision.
In fact, the case has become more intense with the factions of Haryana going on strike against direct payment. In Haryana, the purchase of wheat has not been able to pick up vigor, whereas the procurement of wheat has started from April 1. So far, only 1.42 lakh tonnes of wheat have been purchased. Wheat is fully prepared in Punjab. It is estimated that eight to one million tonnes of wheat will come daily as soon as the mandis start. If the transportation remains slow, then wheat grains will be planted within three to four days. How the state’s procurement agencies will deal with this situation is a big question.
Market board issued pass, farmers confused
Due to Corona, the Mandi Board has once again made a system of bringing wheat to farmers by issuing passes. There is a fear in the mind of the farmers that if they take wheat, then where will they plant the dhari due to the factions are on strike. Who will get their wheat cleaned.
Ten thousand masks and sanitizer bottles in four thousand mandis
Mandi Board Chairman Lal Singh has said to strictly implement Kovid related security measures. He has provided 10 thousand masks (N-95) and 10 thousand bottles of sanitizer to 5600 employees. Lal Singh said that the number of mandis has been increased to 4000 from 1872. The target is to buy 130 lakh metric tonnes of wheat this season.
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