Bundelkhand farmers allege traders added GST on crop payment

BHOPAL: In a first case of its kind in Bundelkhand’s Sagar district, two farmers were allegedly duped by traders on the pretext of deductions under the goods and services tax (GST).

At Rehli tehsil in Sagar district, two farmers have complained to the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) that they sold their kharif crop to two traders at the Rehli Krishi Upaj Mandi, who deducted 1% from the total amount they had to pay the farmers citing GST although the sale does not attract the tax.

Rajaram Parihar from Sagar’s Achalpur village said that on October 22, he and his elder brother Rajkumar had gone to Rehli Krishi Upaj Mandi to sell their crop.

“After negotiations over purchase rate, we agreed to sell our crop to two traders. We sold soyabean and masoor dal. They told us that payment of ₹2 lakh will be made on October 25 citing cash problem. On October 25, when Rajkumar met the traders, they gave us ‘kachha bill’ (informal receipt ) and cash amounting to ₹1,98,000 and said that 1% has been deducted as GST,” he said.

“We argued and protested but they did not listen to us and told that this rule started with GST. We even complained to Krishi Mandi officials but even they did not listen. As the last resort, we complained to Rehli SDM. But we have little hope that action will be taken against the traders as they are rich and resourceful. These grain traders work in a monopolistic way and according to their whims fix the purchase price of crops,” Parihar said.

MLK Khare, Rehli SDM told HT that he had received a complaint from the farmers. “It is illegal and I have ordered the Rehli Mandi secretary to inquire the matter and submit a report at the earliest.”