New Delhi: The Central Government on Thursday rejected the plea of the Punjab Government for yet another exemption of Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers and directed it to make online MSP payment in the upcoming procurement season.
Punjab's Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singhla and Food and Civil supply minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu met Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal to make their demands. The meeting lasted for almost two hours.
Later, while addressing the media, Manpreet Singh Badal said, "The Minister has rejected our requests for exemption from DBT route. He said that the state would have to make its own procurement arrangements if it wishes to pay farmers through 'Arthiyas'. So, we are now left with no other choice."
Bharat Bhushan Ashu said Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh has called a meeting of 'Arthiyas' on Friday. He said that the state government will explore ways to make direct payments to the farmers and will also provide protection to the 'Arthiyas'.
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"We will also take 'Arthiyas' into the loop. We will develop a mechanism that can provide protection to 'Arthiyas' as well. Procurement season will begin from April 10 and we are sure that it will be completed with hassle-free management with direct transfers to the farmers," Ashu said.
The Centre on Thursday said to Punjab that 15 procuring states have opted DBT route to make payments to the farmers. Punjab has already got three exemptions in the past, therefore no further exemption would be possible for the state.
Recently, Capt Amarinder had also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to continue the existing system of payment to the farmers till a consensus can be evolved on DBT issue. He had also asserted that 'Arthiyas' are not middlemen between the farmers and procurement agencies, but are service providers.
Meanwhile, the Central Government has agreed to grant Punjab six month extension to link the land record to its national e-procurement portal.
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