New Delhi:
FCI counters will be set up in Narela Mandi from Monday for procurement of wheat and other food grains at MSP rates, Delhi Agriculture Minister Gopal Rai said on Saturday. The decision was taken in a joint meeting between Agriculture Department, Mandi officials, and senior officers of the FCI.
Informing about decision, Rai said in a statement that he himself went to the Narela Mandi to review whether the counters have been set up, and discovered that the FCI counters were not installed. He said that the setting up of counters will help farmers in a way that their time will be saved, and they will be saved from the long and tedious process of registration, and won’t be forced to run from pillar to post to sell their crops.
“The registrations will be open from 10 AM to 5 PM, and coupons will be given to the famers from there itself. This was especially important as the farmers at the Narela Mandi were complaining and were facing problems because of the absence of FCI counters there,” he said.
“The counters will be useful in facilitating sale of wheat at MSP rates. Within Delhi, FCI counters were set-up in three areas, viz: Mayapuri, Najafgarh Mandi, and Narela Godown of FCI. However, farmers demanded that the counters must be installed in the mandi as well. Hence, this decision has been taken. It should be noted that officials of the Agriculture department, Mandis, and FCI will be present at the counters,” Rai asserted.
According to Rai, the farmers should bring Girdawari with them, and in case it is not available with them, they must carry their Aadhar Card, a copy of their Khasra & Khatauni documents, and Bank Passbooks, so as to get themselves registered. “They will be given a coupon at the Narela Mandi, stating the date at which they can bring their crops to the godown, which will be weighed and sold thereafter,” he added.
Commenting upon the statement given by opposition member Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Rai stated, “Opposition senior leader Ramvir Singh Bidhuri falsely claimed that counters have already been set-up in Narela Mandi, and that I should resign as I am making false claims; I request him that because he is a senior opposition member, he must properly investigate on the matter and then make statements. He must not make statements which are an outcome of his half baked knowledge.”
Rai added that the counters were set-up in Godowns, and not mandis, however the latter was the demand of farmers. Hence, the counters will be set-up from Monday.
