Punjab to transfer Rs 350 cr in accounts of 11K farmers today
CHANDIGARH: The state government has claimed that it will transfer Rs 350 crore to around 11,000 farmers through direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode, directly into accounts of the farmers, bypassing the previous system of payment through the arhtiyas by Monday evening.
To date, only Rs 22 crore has been disbursed to at least 750 state farmers for procurement that started on April 10. “By Monday, disbursal will begin in full swing as hiccups in implementing the DBT have been removed. At least 18,000 arhtiyas have been linked to the new system. There are 33,000 arhtiyas in Punjab, of which 25,000 are active in procurement,” an officer, who is part of the process, said, adding that the Centre had mandated the system. He added that Mansa, Sangrur, Patiala, Barnala and Bathinda top the chart in disbursal of the Minimum Support Price (MSP), which has been fixed at Rs 1,975 per quintal. When the DBT system was introduced arhtiyas has resisted it and announced a strike. To pacify the arhtiyas, the state government decided to bring changes in the Public
Financial Management System so that arhtiyas could have access to a window and clear payment being credited into farmers’ accounts. Food department sources said on Sunday that 50 lakh tonne wheat had arrived in mandis, of which 42 lakh tonne had been procured. “The procurement of HD 2967 variety on in a hassle-free manner,” said food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, in response to reports that the variety was discoloured and was thus not being purchased. “Punjab Agricultural University has approved the variety for purchase,” he said.