Will end labour contract system in mandis: Sidhu

Blurb: Says resurrection of state economy only by empowering farmers

Tribune News Service

Moga, December 16

PCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu today said the Congress government will abolish the contract system of labour in grain markets and state procurement agencies to pave the way for paying their remuneration directly in bank accounts.

Addressing a gathering of labourers (palledars) at the new grain market here Thursday, Sidhu said: “I will ask my younger brother Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to pass a resolution in the state Cabinet meeting as soon as possible for the registration of all palledars and formulate a policy to give them their wages at minimum rates notified by the state government, directly into their accounts, by abolishing the system of middle-men contractors”.

Presently, the labourers are hired through contractors by the FCI and state procurement agencies. Though these agencies are principal employers of the labourers, they are actually not the employees of the agencies.

“The government must register all the labourers to keep a permanent record and pay their wages directly into their accounts,” he said.

Sidhu further said: “Resurrection of Punjab’s economy is only possible through the farmers by increasing the farmers’ income, assured price and procurement of crops. I stand behind the kisan andolan as a humble Punjabi. Centre must legalise the MSP of crops.”

Pointing to the ‘Punjab Model’, he said: “We will procure pulses and oilseeds at MSP.” Further, the government would process and market crops through cooperatives and state-owned corporations. Farmer-owned startups would be promoted and empowered by the government.

“We will provide market intervention when market prices are lower than the MSP and the government will pay the gap between selling price, cost of production and the MSP to the farmers,” he said.

He said the farmers suffered due to lack of holding capacity while traders flourish by earning more profits. “We will bring changes to Punjab Warehousing Act. In case market prices crash, farmers who do not wish to sell produce at lesser rates will be allowed to store and will receive 80 per cent value of the produce as loans”, he added.

Addressing a rally at Raikot, Sidhu called upon people to elect a government that would ensure there were no toll plazas, the son of a poor rickshaw puller got free treatment for cancer at a government hospital and a child from a poor family got free higher education.

Terming rationalisation of agriculture the only panacea for farmers’ woes, Sidhu assured the Congress after returning to power would make MSP a legal entity and the party MPs would ensure a private member’s Bill was enacted by the Union Government.

Lambasting the SAD and AAP, the PCC president said they were trying to mislead voters by “offering lollipops”.

Box

Calls Channi younger brother

Sidhu referred to CM Charanjit Singh Channi as his ‘chhota veer’ (younger brother) frequently. Referring to an older party symbol, Sidhu said: “Eh do bailan dee jori hai (it is a pair of bullocks)”.