Reluctance, lack of training behind slow implementation of new payment method

OF 9.5 LAKH FARMERS’ ACCOUNTS, ONLY 20,339 REGISTERED WITH ONLINE SYSTEM

CHANDIGARH : Only 906 arhtiyas (commission agents) in Punjab have adopted the public finance management system (PFMS) for payment of crops and started working on it by posting entries on their login IDs. The number is minuscule when compared to 24,287 – the total number of registered arhtiyas in the state.

PFMS is an online transaction system, mandated by the Centre, for payment of crops to at least 15 lakh farmers in 9.5 lakh accounts in state, with the objective to link the financial network of central and state agencies and get realtime reporting of banking transactions.

As many as 782 commission agents attached with the Pungrain, one of the four procurement agencies in Punjab, have posted entries, but other three agencies are lagging way behind — with 51 agents attached with Punsup, 33 with Markfed and 31 with Punjab State Warehousing Corporation doing the needful.

As per the figures released by the food and civil supplies department last week, 40% of the total commission agents’ accounts (10,295) have been activated and given passwords. They were expected to start working on it later this week.

Out of 15 lakh farmers who are serviced through 9.5 lakh accounts, only 20,339 have been linked to the new system. Reluctance on the part of farmers and commission agents in adopting new system and lack of training to the staff of procurement agencies and that of the commission agents were causing delays.

It has been two weeks since the state government started procurement of paddy, but payments to the farmers are still to begin .

For the first time in the current kharif marketing season, the first lot of payment of about Rs 270 crore is expected to roll into the farmers’ accounts through the commission agents’ accounts. As per the state food department, 15 lakh tonnes of paddy arrived in the mandis till Sunday, of which 13.67 lakh tonnes has been procured.

Accepting the delays, principal secretary, food and civil supplies, KAP Sinha sai, “October 15 is the deadline to start payments to farmers by PFMS. “Despite reluctance (by farmers and arhtiyas) and slow pace in implementing the new system, the department has to do it because there is no other way out.”

Vijay Kalra, who heads a pro-Congress group of commission agents, said the department is lacking in training that has caused a chaotic situation. “Otherwise we have no apprehensions, as the state government will not go against the interest of arhtiyas,” he told HT.

Director, food and civil supplies, Anandita Mitra said the new system will be implemented completely by the end of the current season. “Training has been done, but we need to do more,” she said, adding that the commission of arhtiyas will be disbursed simultaneously.