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Ruchika M Khanna
Chandigarh, April 10
On day one of procurement on Saturday, Guru Nanak Dhaba at the otherwise bustling Khanna market, the largest grain mandi in Asia, wore a desolate look. There were no farmers at the mandi, only labourers, who had come all the way from Bihar to earn money during the wheat procurement season.
Software amended
The Food Department has amended the procurement software
The commission agents will come to know how much payment is being released to farmers who are linked to them
Worried, they said they were not sure of the process through which they would be paid their wages post direct benefit transfer (DBT) implementation. Vikas Kumar Yadav said: “I am to be paid Rs 6.06 per bag (that I fill and load) by the farmer and Rs 9.24 by the agency. Earlier, the arhtiya would give me the money but I don’t know who will pay me now.” Arvind Kumar, manager of the dhaba, did not foresee a good season. “There is much uncertainty. Farmers and arhtiyas have a symbiotic relationship. Any change in the ties can damage the social fabric,” he said.