No exclusion of commission agents from procurement process: CM

Allaying concerns of commission agents (arthiyas), Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday ruled out their exclusion from foodgrain procurement process.

He said no amendment would be made to the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC)Act to exclude 'Arhtiyas' from the procurement of wheat and paddy for the central pool.

The state government will continue to make payments to farmers through commission agents, with whom farmers had age-old ties, Amarinder said while addressing a function organised by the Federation of Arhtiyas here.

Amarinder expressed satisfaction at the decision of arhtiyas to adopt the Public Financial Management System (PFMS). The Centre had withheld Rs 1,000 crore in payments to the state government due to the non-implementation of the system.

The cash-strapped state could ill-afford any delay in the release of this amount, which includes, reimbursement of Rs 500 crore already paid to the 'Arhtiyas', he added.

The Chief Minister directed the State Procurement Agencies and Mandi Board to train the Arhtiyas on use of the PFMS software, and to assist them in uploading the bank account details of the farmers and link them with Arhtiya's bank accounts on PFMS.

Reiterating his government's commitment to ensure hassle-free procurement of food grains, Amarinder said both the farmers and the Arhtiyas had benefittedimmensely as a result of the check on the corrupt practices that had prevailed in the procurement operations during the Akali regime.

Pointing out that the cash credit limit which used to come at the fag end of the procurement season during the Akali's rule had been arranged much before the start of procurement ever since his government took over, the Chief Minister said the support of the Arhtiyas had helped in ensuring timely payments and lifting of foodgrain.