e-trading: Arhtiyas to go on strike from Sept 23

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, September 19

The state government’s decision to introduce e-trading in all the mandis has not gone down well with the commission agents. They have decided to start indefinite strike from September 23.

After a meeting with representatives of various mandis here today, Ashok Gupta, president, Haryana State Anaj Mandi Arhtiya Association, said commission agent would hold a protest rally in Karnal on September 23 to oppose digital procurement and direct payment to farmers.

“It has been unanimously decided that arthiyas will suspend work in mandis across the state. There will be no procurement till the state government withdraws its decision on e-trading and direct payment to farmers,” said Gupta.

He termed e-trading as “impractical” and said it would add to the problems of traders and farmers.

Gupta further claimed that the pilot e-trading project started in 59 various markets was unsuccessful.

Gupta accused Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar and other BJP legislators of giving them false assurance that conventional procurement would continue.

The state government had planned to introduce digital procurement last year but the decision was opposed by the commission agents on the pretext that they were not computer literate and required time to engage qualified staff to manage the records.

Gupta alleged the state government wanted to dismantle the arthtiya system under the garb of reforms and it would severely affect the farming community.

“Arhtiya is the backbone of the farming sector. A farmer can take cash without any precondition from a commission agent. No kisan union has ever demanded direct payment to farmers. If the state government will try to implement the system arbitrarily, it will be fought back,” he said.

Though paddy has started arriving in the mandis, the official procurement will commence from October 1.