Soon, Apni Mandi twice a week

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 3

Now, residents of the city will get fresh fruits and vegetables close to their houses  twice a week as the Market Committee, Chandigarh, has decided to set up apni mandis  in different  sectors from next week.   

The committee has taken the initiative on the directions of Ajit Balaji Joshi, Deputy Commissioner-cum-Secretary, State Agriculture Marketing Board, Chandigarh.   

At present, the Punjab Mandi Board sets up apni mandis in various sectors on different days. Due to the weekly mandi schedule, earlier people had to buy fruits and vegetable for the entire week.  However, with the additional mandis, they will no longer be required to stock vegetables as they can buy fresh ones twice a week.

Rajinder Kumar, secretary, Market Committee, said the mandis would be set up at the same places where the Punjab Mandi  Board sets these.

He said on the directions of the  Deputy  Commissioner, strict vigil would be ensured to check incidents of overcharging and fleecing of consumers. It would be mandatory for farmers to display the rate list and regular checking would be carried out in the mandis. Arrangements for drinking water and other facilities would also be made by the Market Committee. He said all formalities to start the   mandis had been completed and these would start soon.

The mandis are based on the concept of “Saturday Market”  prevalent in the UK and the USA. With the elimination of middlemen, the net profit is shared by the producers. The consumers also stand to benefit as they have to pay less.

Deputy Commissioner Ajit Balaji Joshi said the idea behind  starting the  facility was to remove the  middlemen involved in the trade,  who pocketed a major share of the profit of the growers.

The Market Committee  will give permission and issue identity  cards to farmers and vendors. Preference will be given to the farmers of Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab and vegetable and fruit vendors of Sector 26.