Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister reviews the ongoing wheat procurement in the grain market of Rupnagar
Interacting with the labor community, Minister says, the real god on earth are the labourers,
Government increases the remuneration twice to Rs 2.64
Chandigarh/Rupnagar, April 18: Punjab’s Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Friday reviewed the ongoing wheat procurement arrangements at the grain market of Rupnagar,
He said that this time there has been a bumper crop of wheat in Punjab and about 125 lakh metric tonnes of wheat is likely to arrive during this season.
Food and Supplies Minister Mr. Kataruchak further said that till now 13 lakh 16 thousand metric tons of wheat have arrived in the markets. Out of this, about 11 lakh metric tons have been purchased. He said that Rs. 703 crore has been paid in the accounts of the farmers.
He said that as per the instructions of Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann, while the payment is being made within 24 hours of the purchase, there is no slacking in lifting either. He said that so far no issue has come to light during his visit to the markets.
According to the Food and Supplies Minister, if the weather continues to cooperate like this, then the quality of the wheat grain this time will remain good. He said that all the agencies and agents have been asked to make complete arrangements of tarpaulins and crates to protect the grain coming to the markets from the weather. Apart from this, there is no shortage of gunny bags.
He clarified that farmers will not be allowed to face any kind of problem in the markets and as per the orders of Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann, he is personally visiting the markets and reviewing the ongoing procurement. He said that strict instructions have been issued to all the officers involved in the procurement arrangements so that there is no laxity in the markets and no farmer or arhti has to face any problem.
On this occasion, Mr. Kataruchak while interacting with the labour community said that the real gods of the earth are the labourers who work so hard to raise their families. He also thanked the labourers
for their cooperation in the marketing of crops. He said that the Punjab government has always stood by them and the state government has increased their wages twice in just 1 year, he said that first it was increased from Rs. 1.80 to Rs. 2.21 and keeping in mind the rising inflation and the demand of arhtis, the Chief Minister of Punjab Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann took a bold decision and increased the rate by 43 paise to Rs 2.64. He said that this increase will benefit the labour community by about Rs. 10 crore.
State government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has made arrangements for the procurement of 130 lakh metric tonnes of wheat so that every grain of wheat brought by farmers to the markets is purchased at the minimum support price.
He also reiterated the state government’s commitment to purchase every grain of crops produced by the farmers with their hard work.
On this occasion, MLA Rupnagar Advocate Mr. Dinesh Kumar Chadha, Deputy Commissioner Rupnagar Mr. Varjeet Singh Walia, Senior Superintendent of Police Mr. Gulneet Singh Khurana, Chairman of Market Committee Mr. Bhag Singh Madan, District Food Supply Officer Dr. Kimmy Vaneet Kaur Sethi, Chairman of Improvement Trust Mr. Shiv Kumar Lalpura and other high officials were present.
