Punjab CM Amarinder Singh Assures Support To Arhatiyas; Says They Will Remain Integral Part Of Procurement System

Punjab's Chief Minister (CM) Amarinder Singh has assured the State's commission agents, also called arhatiyas, that his Government supports them and that they would remain an integral part of Punjab's procurement system, reports Times of India.

CM Amarinder Singh's open support to the State's arhatiyas comes at a time when the Centre is increasingly pressuring the State Government to directly transfer the money generated from sales of farm produce at minimum support prices (MSPs) to the bank accounts of the farmers of the State.

It should be noted that in its latest directive, the centre has ruled out any further relaxation to the State Government on the direct benefit transfer (DBT) issue.

The Centre is pushing the State to adopt the DBT system under which the farmers will be paid directly for their crops bought by the Government agencies at MSP, bypassing arhatiyas. The adoption of DBT will likely help in plugging the leakages and ensure apt remuneration to the farmers of the State.

Meanwhile, protestors continue to amass on the borders of Delhi demanding a repeal of the three farm sector legislative reforms which were passed by the Parliament last December.