The commission agents are given 2.5 percent commission, which roughly makes upto Rs 62.5 if a crop procured at about Rs 2500.
Raghbir Singh Brar
Faridkot
Ahartias Federations,Federation of Ahatia Association of Punjab and Ahartia association Punjab are allegedly differ on whether to have a strike from April 1 just before the procurement season of wheat or not.
The federation of the ahartia association of Punjab is headed by Vijay Kalrawhile another faction, registered as Ahartia Association Punjab is being led by Jaswinder Rana.
‘Both the unions are not on the same page.They differ.One of them is determined to go on strike and other is reluctant because of the loss of business and harassment to the farmers,’ said a commission agent from Kotkapura wishing not to be named.
“We are definitely on strike.we want our commission to be increased to 2.5 percent after the MSP.We had scheduled a meeting with the CM Punjab today,but now we have been asked to visit the CM office on April 6 evening.If we get 2.5 percent commission, we are able to get about Rs 65, but now after some increase, we get about Rs 50 per quintal against the earlier of Rs 46 per quintal,’ said Vijay Kalra,when contacted.
When asked why they had not raised the issue before the procurement season,Kalra said that they had raised it.’On February 12,we had taken up this issue with the representatives of the union government and on March 17, we had a meeting with a group of ministers about procurement of the Punjab government,’ said Kalra.
On the other hand,Mohinder Bansal, former office bearer of the local association of commission agents from Faridkot said,” we are concerned with our business. As the president of the local association expired, we have yet to get the body duly elected again. As for as our affiliation on the state level is concerned, we are with the Ahartia Association Punjab.It was the first to demand Rs 2.5 per cent daami,” he said.
But despite the repeated calls,its state president Jaswinder Rana did not answer the call.
Political reasons, a divide in the Federations
Earlier,there was only one union of the commission agents of the state which was Federation of the Ahartiya association of Punjab.But some 20 years ago,it was divided and some of the members floated a different Federation and got its registered as Ahartia association Punjab.The latter came close to the then SAD-BJP alliance.They continue to differ on the various issues of the commission agents.But most of the members are with the Federation led by Vijay kalra,’ claimed a commission agent from Kotkapura withshing not to be named.
‘we are understood that neither the union government not the state are going to accept our demand of 2.5 percent commission over the MSP of each crop.But now ,after the increase of about over Rs 4, it has gone upto Rs 50 per quintal and Haryana is paying something more over that.We hope that due to the election year ,Punjab government may add up something which could lift it to at par Haryana,’ he said.
The issue is related to the centre
The issue of the increase of the percentage of the commission is allegedly in the domain of the union goverment.So the state chief minister has taken a tough stand against the strike of the commission agents.He has alleged said that if someone forces him to bow down,he would not.
The strike so far is impactless
The major wheat crop would not arrive in the grain markets before April 13.So far,therher the grain markets are closed or open,it does not impact on the farmers or anybody else.
Business loss and anger of the farmers
‘We are concerned by the strike of the ahartias just before the arrival of any produce in the market.It leads to our loss besides the harassment of the farmers.So all are not in favor of holding a strike before each season.Tough we get 2.5 percent commission on all the produce procured by the private agencies,but the problem is with the government procurement,’ said another ahartia from Kotkapura who requested to withhed his name.
No Produce before April 13
Due to the back to back showers led by the western disturbances,no wheat crop is going to hit the markets before April 13 and so all the strikes till them are just an arm twisting move.Impactless, the farmers said.