Varinder Singh
Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, November 7
Having sold their paddy crop effortlessly this time, farmers of Punjab in general and of the Doaba region in particular, have come face to face with another problem. It is the forcible deduction of “post-sale bribe” by commission agents from their dues in the name of procurement agencies and millers.
Farmers of the state were by and large happy this time with the swift pace of procurement as compared to previous years. But their elation seemed to be short-lived, for a majority of them are allegedly being forced to bow to the demand of an extra of Rs 25 by commission agents for a quintal of paddy crop at a number of mandis.
The demand of extra money, according to farmers who describe it as “post-sale bribe”, is being allegedly put forth by commission agents in the name of having pleased officials of procurement agencies, millers and transporters who had “facilitated” early disposal, storage and transportation of the crop after its arrival in mandis at the “behest” of commission agents.
Some groups of agitated farmers of Doaba have already lodged complaints with the authorities concerned about the forcible deduction being effected by commission agents. They are annoyed with the “callous” behaviour of the authorities towards what is being described by farmers as nothing but a changed form of corruption from — pre-sale bribe to post-sale bribe. However, commission agents dismiss this charge as baseless.
A number of farmers at different mandis alleged that what was more disturbing for them was the changed working style of the commission agents who behave more like “gangs”, and pressurise them to pay the amount. “They have pooled together in different mandis so as to counter any resistance by farmers. They threaten the farmers who oppose the deduction of Rs 25 per quintal with non-purchase their crop next year if they behaved in this manner or protested with the authorities,” said Pushpinder Singh, a young farmer of Talwandi Chaudharian village in Kapurthala district.
“The commission agents” standard plea is that they have to pass the money further to officials of procurement agencies and millers who had helped them ensure speedy procurement and storage of the produce. Those who refuse to give in are told that next year nobody would procure their crop,” he added.
Similarly, Kuldip Singh of Boolpur village in Kapurthala district alleged that the government had turned a blind eye to the whole affair. “When we go to somebody to lodge our protest, they ask us to give proof. From where can we generate proof for such deals?” he asked.
Though most of the farmers were succumbing to pressures and giving the extra amount, protests
are brewing up in some pockets among farmers. A group of farmers of Kapurthala district reportedly held a meeting at Gurdwara Baba Darbara Singh in Tibba village last week under the leadership of Master Gian Singh to discuss the “unlawful deduction” by commission agents and to chalk out a strategy to counter it.
“Not all commission agents are charging the extra amount of Rs 25, but most of them are doing so,” maintained Satbachan Singh of Tapa Mandi in Sangrur district. On the other hand, Mr Tarsem Peter, general secretary of the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, alleged that a nexus among commission agents, procurement officials and the millers had come up in Punjab which was “fleecing” the farmers. “Earlier, farmers had to pay bribe in advance. Now they have pay it after the procurement,” he said.
