Sri Fatehgarh Sahib/April 28:
(Ravinder Singh Dhindsa)
The Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister, Punjab, Lal Chand Kataruchak today reviewed the Wheat procurement arrangements at Anaj Mandi, Sirhind. On the occasion, he said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has always taken big decisions for safeguarding the rights of farmers and the labourers. He also added that during the present season too, top notch arrangements have been ensured in the mandis for the benefit of farmers, labourers, and arhtiyas. The Minister also expressed satisfaction over the fact that during his visits to various mandis not even a single farmer has complained regarding procurement, in the districts.
Revealing more, the Minister said that till now, 97 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of wheat has been procured from 1864 Mandis in the state. He further added that this time the state has witnessed bumper crop and 102 LMT wheat has arrived in the mandis till date. There would be no difficulty in meeting the 124 LMT target of central pool. Interacting with the labourers in the mandi, Kataruchak said that the Punjab Government has increased the wages of the labourers to Rs. 2.64 Per Sack. Earlier, the labourers used to get Rs. 1.80 per Sack which was expanded by 41 paise to Rs. 2.21. This rate was further increased by 43 paise to Rs. 2.64 which is the present rate. This would lead to the benefit of Rs. 10 Crore in one year to the labourers. On the occasion, the Minister also interacted with the farmers, labourers as well as the arhtiyas and expressed satisfaction at the arrangements in the mandis. Among others present on the occasion included MLA Advocate Lakhbir Singh Rai, DC Dr. Sona Thind, Chairman Market Committee Sirhind Gurwinder Singh Dhillon, Chairman District Planning Committee Ajay Singh Libra, SDM Fatehgarh Sahib Arvind Gupta, DFSC Mennakshi, District Mandi Officer Aslam Muhammad, DM Markfed Sachin Kumar, AFSO Kewal Singh and President Arhtiya Association Sirhind Tarsem Lal Uppal.