Farmers Movement Archive

Protest against problems faced by farmers in mandis

Our CorrespondentTarn Taran, April 26Taking serious note of the problems being faced by farmers, the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Punjab, lodged its strong protest at the Usman toll plaza.The dharna entered its 230th day against the three contentious agricultural laws. The protesting farmers and the mazdoors also burnt the effigies of the state and the Union governments.The protest was lodged when the state government had announced a lockdown on Sunday.Sukhwinder Singh Dugalwala, Tejinderpal Singh Raju, Fateh Singh Piddi and other leaders of the organisation condemned the Union and the state governments against their alleged anti-farmer policies.The leader said the shortage of bardana (gunny bags) in mandis had made the position worst as the procurement had come at a standstill.Leaders said farmers were being forced to pay Rs100 per quintal wheat for the bardana by the inspectors of procurement agencies.The farm laws, payment on the procured wheat directly in farmers’ account, demanding of documents unnecessarily etc. acts, too, were condemned by the leaders. Leaders demanded early supply of bardana by the government itself immediately.No shortage of gunny bags: Tarn Taran DCTarn Taran: The district administration has provided bardana to all grain markets and procurement centres in the district in required quantity, claimed Deputy Commissioner Kulwant Singh at a meeting held with the officials concerned and the representatives of procurement agencies on Monday. The officer claimed that the procurement work was going on as per routine. The DC said a payment of Rs288.44 crore had been credited to the bank accounts of farmers till April 25 against their procured produce. He said so far, wheat worth 4,04,481 MT has arrived in district mandis, of which 3,88,155 MT had been procured by different procurement agencies. The DC said 49,459 MT wheat had been lifted from mandis and strict instructions had been issued to procurement agencies to expedite the process. The DC appealed to all to abide by the Civid-19 guidelines in mandis. OC‘Bardana Shortage has made situation worst’ The shortage of bardana (gunny bags) in mandis has made the position worst as procurement has come to a standstill. Leaders said farmers were being forced to pay Rs100 per quintal wheat for the bardana by the inspectors of procurement agencies. The government should supply bardana immediately. — Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee members

The Tribune

2021-04-27