Labourers begin work for crops other than paddy

A delegation of the district unit of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Qadian) under the leadership of its district president, Pavitra Singh Dhugga, visited the main grain market of the district today and met the farmers. The delegation organised a meeting with the Arhtiya Association to discuss the problem that the farmers have been facing due to the paddy produce not being purchased at the mandis. Dhugga said a ‘warning letter’ was handed over to Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner, adding that in the letter they have urged the state government to begin the paddy procurement process immediately.

Dhugga said the Deputy Commissioner had assured him the purchase of the crop would begin at all mandis within two-three days. He said he told the DC that if the paddy procurement did not begin soon, they would have to start an agitation, adding that the administration would be responsible for it.

During the meeting with the Arhtiya Association, he said the crop was ripe and ready; however, due to a lack of commission agents at the mandis, the farmers had to suffer huge losses. He assured the Arhityas that the farmers would assist them in any way possible so that they could start the procurement process soon.

The district president of the Punjab Arhtiya Association, Sudhir Sood, Hoshiarpur Mandi Arhtiya Association president Rohit Sood Honey and chairman Pandit Tarsem Modgil were present in the meeting. They said their state organisation was in talks with the government to begin the purchase of paddy. They said they were hopeful that everything would become normal soon. On this occasion, Secretary of the organisation Vishal Bansal, Rohit Jain, and Neeraj Kumar, besides the office bearers and members of the organisation, were present.

Meanwhile, the chairman of Galla Mandi, Chaudhary Hari Ram, and the secretary, Chaudhary Raj Kumar, said no proper steps had been taken by the government to increase their wages. They said despite this, keeping in view the problems of the farmers, they have started the work of cleaning, filling, and loading of other crops coming to the market apart from paddy. They said the labourers today loaded unloaded and did other work related to mustard, maze, wheat, and other crops brought by farmers to the mandi.