Arhtiyas protest direct payment, e-trading

Tribune News Service

Ambala, July 20

Commission agents suspended work and held protests against the state government’s decision to start e-trading and direct payment to farmers at the grain market here on Friday. They also submitted a memorandum to the Zonal Marketing Enforcement Officer for Chief Minister.

Duni Chand, president of the New Grain Market Commission Agents’ Association, Ambala City, said: “Over the last few days, the market committees at Mandi Dabwali and some other grain markets have been pressurising the commission agents to adopt e-trading and direct payment policies. In 2016 and 2017, the commission agents’ association had discussed the issue with the government and explained that this system is impractical in Haryana. The association was assured that it will not be implemented and only the interested farmers would be made direct payments for their produce and e-trading.”

“Despite the assurance, the marketing board has again issued directions to implement the policies in some markets, which is unacceptable, as it will badly impact the arhtiya system. The payment must be given to commission agents. The new system is neither beneficial to farmers nor commission agents. We lend money to farmers whenever they need it. If payments are directly transferred to their bank accounts, there is no guarantee that we will get our money back. Besides, there are many flaws in the e-trading system,” he added.

Another commission agent said, “Farmers in Haryana have never demanded direct payment. In 2015, the state government had sought advice from farmers in Kurukshetra over the direct payment to farmers, but only 20 farmers came forward.”

Duni Chand said, “If our demands are not met, the association would intensify its agitation.”

Karnal: Demanding abolition of e-trading system and direct payment to farmers, commission agents under the banner of New Grain Market Commission Agents’ Association on Friday handed over a memorandum to Naib Tehsildar Raj Bakhsh Arora for Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

Rajneesh Chaudhary, president of the association, said the government had been forcing the arthiyas in Dabwali and some other grain markets of the state to implement e-trading system. They observed a one-day strike on Friday against this move, he added.

He along with other arthiyas, including Sumit Chaudhary, Zile Singh, Shamsher Singh and Rakesh Chaudhary threatened to go on strike if the government and the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board implement it forcefully.