Arhtiyas, farmers hold sit-in to oppose e-bidding

Sanjiv Kumar Baksh

Hoshiarpur, June 15

Protesting the decision of online bidding of grains, the arhtis, farmers and labourers jointly held a peaceful sit-in at the office of the market committee. During this, Sudhir Sood, the president of the Arhtiya Association, said according to the Mandi Board law, there was a custom of open bidding of cereals. But for the last few days, officials of the Mandi Board are trying to break the practice of bidding and are pressurising them to do it through E-bidding on mobile. But farmers are not happy with the system.

He also said in mandi, there were more than 400 piles of maize of several qualities and sometimes it is even laden with moisture, for which bidding cannot be made online. But the mandi officials are adamant to thrust this decision upon farmers.

He rued that the said scheme was related to the Central Government but it was suitable only for the areas where there was no marketing infrastructure. He said since there was a strong marketing system in Punjab, there was no need for the said e-bidding in the state.