Farmers Movement Archive

Amid uncertainty, arhtiyas in Punjab take blank cheques from farmers

BATHINDA: Three days into the official start of wheat procurement in Punjab, uncertainty prevails over the payment mode. For the first time, direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme has been made applicable in Punjab, which neither arhtiyas (commission agents) nor farmers are completely familiar with. Arhtiyas are collecting blank cheques from farmers, which is turning out to be a major sign of uncertainty. Many farmers say the arhtiyas are doing this to be assured of the return of their loaned money or even interest amount on credit advanced to the farmers. However, the arhtiyas claim they are collecting cheques to upload the bank details of the farmers on the Anaaj Kharid (grain procurement) portal, a condition for direct benefit transfer. It is also being seen as a step towards benefit transfer to tenant farmers, as stated by Union consumer affairs and food minister Piyush Goyal. A section of farmers, however, feels that faultlines are already emerging in the “strong bonhomie” projected between the farmers and the arhtiyas. Till a few days ago, both the farmers and the arhtiyas were terming their relationship as ‘nau-mass da rishta’ (ties like nail and flesh), but now concede that it is more of a monetary arrangement as the arhtiyas are getting blank cheques from farmers for procurement of their wheat crop. “Arhtiyas have collected cheques from us for smooth procurement. We are uncertain about the status of cheques as to whether these will be used to deduct the loan amount from our accounts into which payment is made directly on procurement or for other purposes,” said a few farmers of a Bathinda village. Another Mansa farmer said the arhityas had made farmers give them blank cheques and they fear that the latter would deduct the loan amount from their accounts. However, such claims were vehemently denied by the arhtiyas. BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan said, “The relationship between farmers and arhtiyas is not ‘nau-mass da rishta’ but that of a knife and watermelon. Wherever the knife goes, it is a loss for the watermelon. We will check if the cheques are being collected and if so, for what.” A few days ago, senior leaders of Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, including Balbir Singh Rajewal, had advocated payment to farmers through arhtiyas and opposed DBT. In contrast, the largest farm organisation, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan), apart from Krantikari Kisan Union led by Darshan Pal, said they preferred DBT but the timing was not right. The arhtiyas, however, have a different explanation. “Blank cheques, crossed and without the account holder’s signature are being collected. These are being collected to get exact account numbers and IFSC code of the bank branch for hassle-free transfer of benefit into their accounts. The cheques are being returned forthwith,” claimed Dheeraj Kumar and Satish Kumar, two arhtiyas from Barnala. Federation of Arhtiyas Association president Vijay Kalra said no arhtiya from Punjab was collecting blank cheques for surety of return of his loaned amount. If any arhtiya is found indulging in this act, legal and disciplinary action would be taken against him, he said. Arhtiya Association, Punjab, president Ravinder Singh Cheema said cheques are being collected to rotate the limit of farmers depositing money in the bank and to collect account details for direct transfer.

The Times of India

2021-04-14

Amritsar