Farmers facing hassles due to new procurement rules: Haryana ex-CM Bhupinder Hooda

Former Haryana Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday said that the state government should withdraw the requirement of biometric authentication for selling produce in grain markets and ensure timely procurement.

During a visit to the Pipli grain market, Hooda interacted with farmers and commission agents. He said, “We have been visiting grain markets and interacting with farmers to understand their problems. In most grain markets, farmers have expressed resentment over the new policies and guidelines related to the biometric system, gate passes, vehicle numbers and verifications.”

“The state government should withdraw the requirement of biometric authentication with immediate effect. Arrivals are intensifying in grain markets, but lifting is very poor, due to which farmers are not receiving payments as per the norms. The government claims that payments are cleared within 48 hours, but farmers are waiting for over a week due to poor lifting,” he added.

The former CM said, “Earlier there was a paddy scam in the state, then farmers sold their potato produce at cheaper rates, and now they are facing inconvenience in selling wheat.” He added, “It seems the government wants farmers to sell their produce outside grain markets.”

He also said that the government should provide adequate compensation to farmers who have suffered losses due to untimely rains and hailstorms. “To help mitigate these losses, the state government should offer a bonus over and above the minimum support price (MSP),” he added.

“The BJP government has not taken any public welfare decisions. All sections of society are unhappy due to its wrong policies. It has failed to control inflation, provide employment and ensure a safe environment. Law and order has deteriorated in the state,” the former CM said.

Hooda said that during his visit to the Pipli grain market, several farmers voiced their grievances. “It was unfortunate that even after several months, about 95 farmers were yet to receive payment for their paddy crops,” he said.

“I spoke over the phone with the Deputy Commissioner of Kurukshetra and other senior officials, who assured me that the payment process would be completed within two to three days. The BJP government’s crop procurement scam has now been thoroughly exposed. The stark disparity between the government’s lofty claims and the harsh ground reality is glaringly evident,” he added.

Hooda was accompanied by Thanesar MLA Ashok Arora, Shahabad MLA Ramkaran Kala, Kurukshetra Congress district president Mewa Singh and several other leaders.