ARHTIYAS INTEGRAL PART OF PROCUREMENT ECOSYSTEM, PUNJAB GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO THEIR OVERALL WELFARE: GROUP OF MINISTERS

COMPREHENSIVE DELIBERATIONS WITH ARHTIYA ASSOCIATIONS AHEAD OF PADDY PROCUREMENT SEA

Face2News/Chandigarh

The Arhtiyas (Commission Agents) constitute an inseparable part of the procurement eco system of the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and is ever ready to promulgate policies aimed at their overall welfare.

It was owing to the persistent efforts of the State Government that the Union Government increased the per quintal commission of the arhtiyas by Rs. 4.74. The Punjab Government knows fully well the yeoman’s contribution made by the arhtiyas in Sync with the other stakeholders to ensure the success of every procurement season.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) comprising Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak & Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal here today reiterated this commitment during meeting with the Federation of Arhtiyas Association of Punjab led by President Vijay Kalra and Arhtiya Association Punjab led by President Jaswinder Singh Rana in view of the upcoming Paddy procurement season.

The associations put forth their various demands such as release of the amount worth Rs. 55 Crores lying with the EPF authorities and no future EPF deductions to be made as the labourers are hired on the seasonal basis, Strict enforcement of the rules with regard to Non Operation of combines during the night hours, Ensuring no paddy sale from other States in the mandis of Punjab, To ensure speedy movement of previously stored food grains from the State in order to make storage space in view of the forthcoming paddy procurement season.

Besides, the other issues that came up for comprehensive discussion included bringing in the One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme to resolve the issue pertaining to penalties imposed on pending installments of shops and plots owned by arhtiyas in the mandis apart from allowing temporary yards in the mandis to make room for agricultural produce likely to come during the paddy procurement season.

The Group of Ministers held threadbare deliberations on every aspect of each of the issues brought forward by the arhtiya associations and reiterated their commitment to take up the same at the appropriate level in the Government.

Among others present on the occasion included the Principal Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rahul Tewari, Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Varinder Kumar Sharma and Additional Director Food Supply Ajayveer Singh Sarao.