'Raw lottery' will be abolished in Haryana's mandis, strict orders from High Court!

The system of issuing handwritten slips to farmers in Haryana's grain markets may be abolished. On Tuesday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, while hearing a public interest litigation, ordered the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Agriculture Department to issue an order within 30 days.

Dr. Virendra Singh Lathar, former Chief Scientist at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, had stated in his petition that farmers should be given printed receipts instead of handwritten slips. He argued that this system of handwritten slips was resulting in farmers receiving 30-40 percent less than the actual price for their crops. He also demanded that a helpline number be established.

Virendra Lathar's lawyer, Pradeep Raparia, said that if they are not satisfied with the government's decision, they can file another petition in the High Court.

Key points of the petition regarding handwritten slips:

Demand for printed receipts instead of handwritten slips: Virendra Lathar stated in his petition that the printed receipt should include the shop's name, address, number, and date. This receipt should be given to the farmer immediately after selling the crop, so that everything is clear. Currently, in the markets, commission agents first give farmers handwritten slips and pay them less money, but in government records, they show that the crop was purchased at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Demand for a helpline number in the petition: The petitioner also stated that there is a significant difference between the money paid to the farmers and the government figures. The government should start a helpline number for farmers that is always operational so that farmers can register their complaints immediately. Officials should be ordered to provide farmers with a 'J-form' immediately after selling the crop, so that there is no delay in receiving payment and no one can commit fraud. He had informed the government about these malpractices, but the government did not take any significant action.

Now, let's see what Virendra Lathar said...

Middlemen are exploiting farmers: Dr. Virendra Singh Lathar said that despite having good harvests and selling their crops at MSP, farmers in Punjab and Haryana are still burdened with debt. This is because the cost of farming has increased, there is no legal guarantee of MSP (Minimum Support Price), and middlemen like moneylenders exploit farmers, preventing their income from increasing.

Giving farmers fake receipts: He said that commission agents often force farmers to sell their crops at lower prices by giving them fake receipts, even when government procurement is happening at MSP. This traps farmers in a debt cycle. Farmers can only be protected from the exploitation of middlemen by imposing a legal ban on this practice.
Farmers' income will increase by up to 40 percent: Lather said that if the system of fake receipts is stopped, the income of farmers in Haryana and Punjab could increase by approximately 30-40 percent. Farmers with 3 hectares of land could earn more than Rs 7 lakh annually. This will free farmers from debt and allow them to live a prosperous life.

Scams were also caught three months ago, 5 officers and employees were suspended
About three months ago, CM Nayab Saini suspended five officers after two major scams came to light in the grain markets of Haryana. Among them, Manoj Parashar, Secretary-cum-EO of Kanina Mandi in Mahendragarh district, and Narendra Kumar, Secretary-cum-EO of Kosli grain market in Rewari district, were suspended.

Similarly, Mandi Supervisors Hardeep, Ashwani, and Auction Recorder Satbir were suspended in Karnal district. In Mahendragarh and Rewari districts, millet procurement was shown only on paper to usurp the benefits of the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (Price Difference Compensation Scheme). Meanwhile, in several markets including Karnal, the arrival of paddy was shown only on paper by issuing fake gate passes.

Upon receiving information, the investigation team found discrepancies in the data of the e-procurement portal and the H register of the Market Committee in the Kanina grain market. Market Committee officials, in collusion with traders, were illegally collecting Rs 100 per quintal for issuing gate passes and J-forms, so that the Bhavantar Bharpai money would be credited to the farmers' accounts without them actually selling any millet. When the marketing board's inspection team arrived at the market, the traders also scattered, taking their registers with them. Based on the inspection team's report, Mukesh Ahuja, the Chief Administrator of the Haryana Marketing Board, suspended Manoj Parashar, the secretary of the Kanina grain market.