Taking another farmer-friendly measure, Punjab Government has enabled the farmers to directly lodge their complaints with the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal related to the paddy procurement via toll free no and e-mail.
For the same, the Deputy Chief Minister’s helpline — 1905 — and e-mail — sukhbirsinghbadal@punjab.gov.in — can be accessed.
“The farmers of the State can now lodge a direct complaint with the Deputy Chief Minister in case of encountering any difficulty in selling their produce during the ongoing paddy season and if the problem is not resolved at the sub-divisional and district level,” said an official spokesperson.
Deputy Chief Minister’s helpline and e-mail can be accessed for the purpose and the problems of the farmers would be redressed on priority basis, the spokesperson said.
Giving detailed information, spokesperson said that the state government has already issued directions to all the concerned officers in grain markets (mandis) throughout Punjab to provide every facility to the farming community and no stone is being left unturned to ensure the same.
Spokesperson said that in case a farmer faces any difficulty in selling paddy or doesn’t get the full price of the produce, he can lodge a complaint with the concerned SDM, District Food Supply Officer or the Deputy Commissioner.
If these officers are unable to redress the problems of the farmers, they can directly lodge their grievance or complaint with the Deputy Chief Minister’s toll-free helpline or on the email.
Spokesperson also revealed that the Deputy Chief Minister has strictly instructed the officers to make sure that the farmers face no hassle in selling their produce and they should be rendered every help in the mandis.
In a recent meeting with the Deputy Commissioners, Sukhbir had made it absolutely clear that if any farmer faces any problem during the paddy season, the onus would be on the official concerned who would be strictly proceeded against.
Appealing to the farming community on behalf of the Punjab Government, the spokesperson said that the farmers should refrain from harvesting paddy during night time as this would lead to increase of moisture in the harvested produce resulting in hurdles in getting right price in the mandis.
Spokesperson also added that in order to get adequate price, the farmers should bring their produce to the mandis after drying which is in accordance with the procurement norms or regulations of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).