Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Thursday said that the verification of blue cards would be completed by November 30 to make sure that only the eligible beneficiaries are facilitated.
The Minister, who was addressing the media regarding the paddy procurement season, also patted the Department’s back saying that the State Government has fully lived up to its commitment made to all the stakeholders — farmers, labourers, millers and arhtiyas (commission agents) — before the start of paddy procurement season about ensuring the uninterrupted procurement.
“During the current season, 180 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) paddy stands procured out of the target of 184 LMT. The procurement has been made at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,060 per quintal fixed by the Government of India, and the rest of the procurement would also be completed by today evening,” he said.
The Minister said that this time, no problem was encountered by the farmers in the mandis and procurement as well as lifting was done on time. Within mere four hours of the procurement, the payments were credited into the bank accounts of the farmers, he added.
Giving more details, the Minister said that the State Government had set up 1,806 traditional purchase centres in the mandis besides declaring as many as 583 public places and 37 rice mills as interim purchase centers for the facilitation of farmers and then the allotments were made.
“Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has, so far, credited Rs 34,263.40 crore into the accounts of the farmers for the paddy procured by the agencies of the State...The Government procurement is being ended in most of the districts of the State and the procurement process would be completed in the few remaining pockets by today evening,” he said.
Lauding the yeoman's role played by the Department apart from the Mandi Board in ensuring hassle-free procurement, the Minister also appreciated the contribution of the Punjab Police in effectively stonewalling the illegal paddy coming from the other States by putting up nakas at the inter-state barriers.
He also expressed satisfaction that the custom milling policy of the State Government has garnered praise from the Government of India which has asked the State Government to share its expertise with the other States.