Punjab Commission agents to issue pass books to farmers

CHANDIGARH: The commission agents (Ahrtiyas) in Punjab have agreed to issue Pass-Books to all the farmers, in which all entries of credit and debit would be made to maintain the records. This decision was taken at the initiative of Rural Development and Panchayat minister Lal Singh persuasion of Lal Singh who wanted to frame a code of conduct for commission agents.

Disclosing this while presiding over a meeting of cabinet sub-committee,Lal Singh,said that commission Agents had agreed to constitute Dispute Settlement Committees at Mandi, District and State levels to redress the grievances of farmers out of the court. Dispute Settlement Committee at Mandi level would include farmers concerned and Sarpanch of his respective gram panchayat, concerned commission agent, Mandi Pardhan, Secy. Market Committee and Inspector of Food and Supplies Department, President of commission agent association would convene the meeting and Secy. Market Committee would preside over the meeting.

In a district level dispute settlement committee concerned farmer and Sarpanch of his gram panchayat, concerned commission agent, Mandi Pardhan, concerned district Pardhan, District   Mandi Officer, District Food Controller or Officer deputed by him. District level meeting would be convened by district president of commission agent association and District Mandi Officer would preside over the meeting. Similarly in a state level dispute settlement committee desides concerned farmer and   Sarpanch of his gram panchayat, concerned commission agent, Mandi Pardhan, Chairman Punjab Mandi Board, Director Food and Supplies or officer deputed by him and state president of commission  agent association, who would also convene the meeting and Chairman Punjab Mandi Board would preside over the meeting. In a meeting other member of sub committee who gave valuable suggestions includes  Sh. Avtar Henry Industries and Commerce Minister, Sh. Amarjit Singh Samra, Cooperation Minister, and Sh. Surinder Singla Financial and Health Minister.

It was also decided in the meeting that the policy of one plus one for one time settlement would also be adopted in which if a farmer returned double the amount of loan he had taken the remaining amount should be waived off.

Lal Singh further disclosed that the commission Agents had agreed that they would include nominal over head expenses in the interest on the loan advanced to farmers by them and they would also charge simple interest on the loan. He further said that these steps had been taken to provide relief to the farmers. This would also help in developing cordial relations between farmers and the commission agents.

Bal Krishan Sinlga, President of Punjab Commission Agent association assured the cabinet sub committee that, decisions taken in the meeting would be implemented in letter and spirit. Prominent among others to attend the meeting includes K.K. Bhatnagar, FCR Punjab,  Ajit Singh Sohal,  Vijay Kalra,  Ram Saroop Sharma and  Amarjit Singh Brar all vise presidents of Commission Agent Association.