Punjab farmers announce statewide road blockade on October 13 | Check Details
PTC Web Desk: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has announced a statewide road blockade in Punjab on October 13 from 12 noon to 3 pm to protest the delayed procurement of paddy, which has led to losses for farmers. SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal made the announcement during a press conference held in Chandigarh.
Rajewal flayed both the state and central governments for the delay in crop purchases, stating that inaction was directly impacting the farmers' livelihoods. He said despite promises from the Punjab Government regarding smooth paddy procurement, no significant progress had been seen. He warned that if the Punjab Government failed to shift paddy from the state, it could result in severe financial setbacks for farmers.
Rajewal said the road blockade would include major roads and highways across Punjab, halting traffic from 12 noon to 3 pm. He said the leadership of the farmers' union would convene in Chandigarh on October 14 to discuss future actions aimed at safeguarding farmers' interests.
On the other hand, Cabinet minister Lal Chand Kataruchakk claimed that during the 2023-24 season, procurement agencies have purchased nearly 185 lakh metric tonne of paddy across the state. The minister claimed that most payments had already been transferred to farmers' accounts, with the remaining to be settled shortly. So far, Rs 39,400 crore had been directly deposited into the accounts of farmers.
The Cabinet minister also assured that the state government was committed to purchasing every grain brought to the mandis by farmers and that a streamlined process was put in place to ensure smooth procurement operations.
- With inputs from our correspondent
