Additional Chief Secretary Sumita Misra at the Karnal grain market on Monday. Tribune photo
Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, April 5
Arhtiyas have opposed the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to farmers against the payment for grain procurement and threatened to boycott wheat buying from April 8 if the payment was not resumed through them.
In a state-level meeting of arhtiyas held here, the Haryana State Anajmandi Arhtiyas’ Association also demanded dues of the last paddy season, 12 per cent interest on the delay in releasing the payment and permission to farmers residing in border areas to sell their crop in Haryana.
Ashok Gupta, state president of the association, said: “The state government had told us that the payment will be transferred as per the will of farmers. A majority of farmers have already given their consent to transfer their payment through arhtiyas while registering their crops on the Meri Fasal, Mera Byora portal. In spite of this, the government has said it will credit the payment in the bank accounts of farmers.”
“The state government has time till April 7 to meet our demands, otherwise we will boycott the procurement from the next day,” he said.
The state government has assured arhtiyas that they would continue to get their commission even if farmers are directly paid for their produce. This, however, is not the concern of arhtiyas.
Gupta said: “Arhtiyas are like ATMs to farmers, who borrow money from us in times of crisis. They pay off the debt after having sold their crop. If the state government pays farmers directly, we won’t get our money back. Payment through arhtiyas is a guarantee that we will get out money back.”
Rajnish Chaudhary, president, Karnal Arhtiyas’ Association, raised another concern related with the DBT scheme. “Last season, the Agriculture Department had transferred the payment to wrong bank accounts. Till now, farmers have not received the money,” he said.
He further said payments were pending because “I” forms were not available online. “The state government should start a portal on the lines of CM window to address the grievances of arhtiyas and farmers.”
After the state-level meeting, a delegation of arhtiyas led by Gupta left for Chandigarh for a meeting CM Manohar Lal Khattar. After having met the CM, Gupta said arhtiyas were adamant on their demand.
Govt’s assurance
The state government has assured arhtiyas that they would continue to get their commission even if farmers are directly paid for their produce. This, however, is not the concern of arhtiyas.