Missing stubble machines: Given notices, Punjab Agriculture Dept officials begin 3-day pen-down stir

Chandigarh, January 23

Officials of the state Agriculture Department today staged protests across the state against the government for issuing show-cause notice to over 900 employees in the missing stubble management machinery case.

An agriculture development officer, agriculture sub-inspectors, agriculture extension officers, agriculture officers, officers of the engineering wing of the department and ATMA staff began a three-day pen down strike.

The Tribune had reported in its columns on Saturday about the show-cause notices being issued to over 900 officials of the department, under the Government of India’s Promotion of Agriculture Mechanisation for In Situ Management of Crop Stubble Scheme. Of the 90,422 machines, 11,000 were found missing.

Jaswinder Singh Brar, Chairman, Punjab Agriculture Officers Association, said the Deputy Directors, Agriculture, too had extended support to them. “We are being issued notices for no fault. There could be a number of reasons why the machines are not in possession of farmers on the day of physical verification, including that the machines could have been sent to another place,” he said.

“Also, during the five years of the scheme, newer equipment to manage stubble has come in the market. Farmers have thus sold the old machines and bought new ones,” said another Agriculture Development Officer Manpreet Singh.

The striking officers have decided to hold a protest at Krishi Bhawan next week.