JAGRAON (LUDHIANA): Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari today lashed out at thePunjab government for its failure to smoothly procure the paddy across the state. He said, the state government cannot escape the responsibility of its failure by simply passing on the blame to the centre.
The Minister also spoke to the Food Corporation ofIndia Chairman, C Vishwanath over telephone urging him to take a sympathetic view. In an informal conversation with reporters after visiting some grain markets in the area, Tewari said, the attitude of the state government was “disgustingly disappointing”. He said, the farmers told him that the officials appeared to be in no mood to be considerate and supportive. Rather they have been complicating the problems and adding to the misery of the farmers.
The Union Minister who represents Ludhiana parliamentary constituency in Lok Sabha disclosed that the farmers were comparing the procurement during the last Congress regime between 2002 and 2007 when they were never made to wait for more than 24 hours in the mandis and their payments were made instantly, with the present regime when they are not able to sell their produce on time and for an adequate price, leave aside getting their money on time.
speaks to CMD FCI for relaxing norms
Questioning the blame being levied by the state government on the centre for the farmers’ woes, Tewari said, the farmers fromPunjab were selling the same paddy in Haryana mandis. “If they can sell their paddy in Haryana mandis so conveniently that means there is something wrong with the state machinery in Punjab”, he pointed out, while asking, when same paddy could be procured in Haryana why not inPunjab.
Tewari while speaking to FCI Chairman, C Vishwanath urged him to take a sympathetic view and relax the norms within permissible limits lest the farmers suffer. He told the FCI Chairman that the farmers were already reeling under severe economic and financial pressures as input costs had increased manifold.
Even during the normal sale of their produce the farmers are hardly able to redeem their expenses and when they are made to go for distress sale much below the procurement price it is not possible for them to survive, the minister said, while making a strong case for relaxed norms for the procurement. On the occasion Ishar Singh Meharban, Major Singh Bhaini, Pawan Dewan, Kaka Grewal, Darshan Singh Lakha, Ravinder Sabharwal were also present.