look news india
News India Live, Digital Desk: It is said about farming that when the crops flourish, the heart of the farmer rejoices. But these days the story has changed a bit in Jharkhand. The harvest is ready, there is a pile of paddy in the barns, and weighing of paddy has also started at the government purchasing centers (PACS/LAMPS). But the sad thing is that the farmer who irrigated the soil with his sweat, today the same farmer is making rounds of government offices for his own money.
Generally, this system looks very good on paper that the farmer sells his produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the money comes directly into his bank account. But the reality is that even after weeks of selling the paddy, farmers’ hands are empty.
that tough time of waiting
In this harsh winter of December, the farmers of Jharkhand are facing a double challenge. On one hand, money is needed for seeds and fertilizers to prepare for the next crop, and on the other hand, there are household expenses which depend on the paddy crop itself. When a farmer gives his crop to the government, he expects that within a few days a ‘white SMS’ (payment alert) will ring on his phone. But due to some glitch in the portal or shortage of funds, this money gets stuck somewhere on the way.
Increasing hold of middlemen: benefit of compulsion
When the government system is sluggish, the middle-men benefit the most. A small farmer, who has to marry his daughter or repay a loan to a moneylender, cannot trust the government’s long process and promises of ‘next week’. Tired and exhausted, he has to sell paddy to middlemen at low prices. On paper, the government shows payment of crores of rupees, but the truth is that a large part of it is not reaching the farmers.
own tangle of rules
Be it the excuse of moisture or manipulation in weighing, farmers have to face many problems at government centres. It has often been seen that the farmer who is directly connected to the mill owners gets his work done first, but the common rural farmer keeps waiting for his turn. The question is that if the government cannot give money on time, then how does it have the right to talk about a strong farmer?
need for change in system
This is not just a government figure, but a question of livelihood of thousands of families. The administration has to understand that for the farmer, ‘delay in payment’ is not just a matter of bank statement, but the future of his next bread and next crop. Can’t we create a system where the money reaches the farmer’s account within 48 hours of weighing?
Today the farmers of Jharkhand are looking towards the capital with hopeful eyes. He doesn’t just want assurance, he wants the price of his hard work at the right time.