Sirsa co-op societies protest Hafed panel cuts, threaten statewide strike

Leaders and members of cooperative societies affiliated to the Sirsa Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society Ltd. submitted a memorandum to the Hafed district manager in Sirsa, expressing opposition to the recent commission cuts and raising several related demands. The delegation, led by Chairman Rohtash Poonia, Director Jagdish Sinwar, Surjaram, and employees Satbir and Sanjay Beniwal, stated that Hafed’s decision to reduce commission rates has caused widespread dissatisfaction among cooperative societies' workers and managers across Haryana.

In their joint statement, the members argued that the commission cuts were not only economically damaging to the societies but also disregard the value of hard work done by their employees. They said such unilateral decisions threaten the financial sustainability of cooperative institutions and lower the morale of those working at the grassroots level. The Sirsa cooperative employees have demanded that the decision be immediately reversed, calling it unjust and unacceptable.

The memorandum further warned that if their concerns were not addressed promptly, the union would be forced to launch protests or a strike, for which Hafed management would be held entirely responsible. The leaders said their primary demand was the cancellation of the recent order that reduced the commission on paddy procurement from 0.25 per cent of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to Rs 1.33 per quintal. They were also asking for the wheat procurement commission to be increased from Rs 1.33 per quintal to 0.25 per cent of the MSP.

Additionally, they want transportation charges for anganwadi supplies to be raised from Rs 70 to Rs 150 per quintal, a hike in commission rates on fertilisers and an increase in fertiliser supply quotas from 40 per cent to 60 per cent.

The protesting members stressed that unless these demands were fulfilled, cooperative societies across the region might be forced to take further action.