SDM’s meeting with arhtiyas, labourers remains unfruitful

The indefinite strike of grain market labourers and arhtiyas in mandis continued on Thursday. Due to strike, farmers had to return with the paddy they had brought to mandis. Hoshiarpur SDM today held a meeting with arhtiyas and labourers and tried to persuade them to start purchasing paddy. However, the meeting ended unsuccessfully as the protesters remained adamant on their demands.

The Galla Mazdoor Union staged a protest at mandi. Union president Chaudhary Hari Ram and general secretary Raj Kumar said the government had assured them that their wages would be increased by 25 per cent. They said at present, they were paid Rs 13.81 as labour charges and Rs 1.94 as loading charge per sack. They said their demand was to hike loading charge to Rs 5 per sack, besides increasing labour charges by 25 per cent. They said until their wages were increased, the union would not return to work. They claimed that the union had earlier received an assurance from the government that their demands would be accepted, but nothing had been done forcing the union to go on an indefinite strike.

What arhtiyas say

Punjab Arhtiyas Association district president Sudhir Sood, Hoshiarpur Mandi president Rohit Honey Sood and secretary Vishal Bansal said according to the law made by the Punjab Mandi Board, they were supposed to get 2.5 per cent commission on the crop sold in market which was around Rs 58 per quintal for paddy.

On the government purchase, they said they were being given only Rs 46 per quintal which was less in the face of the rising inflation. They said the government should accept demands of arhtiyas and labourers soon so that the crop does not go waste.

What farmers say

Farmers said that paddy was ready for harvesting, but due to strike in mandis the crop was getting damaged in fields. He said if the strike was not called off soon, farmers would suffer a lot.