If the Modi govt wants to strengthen terms of engagement of farmers in markets, it must replace the need for multiple services that arhatiyas provide farmers.
Rabi marketing season kicks off in Punjab Saturday but, until Thursday, the state and central governments had been locked in a tussle over the mode of payment to farmers.
PM Modi and experts have talked about eliminating middlemen from agricultural trade, but farmers say this will take away their source of easy loans too.
In a country where unemployment is at a historic high, the national anxiety isn’t about jobs — it’s about reach. Aspirations have shifted from employment to engagement, from careers to content.
The learned author has attempted to analyze the pros and cons of the newly introduced DBT system. However, I find it quite intriguing that why the author has not shared the interest rates charged by the Arhtiyas, and the literally the bonded labor relationship that comes into existence once the farmer gets into debtor status with the Arhtiyas. The Arhtiyas survives, rather thrive on his capacity to charge the most exorbitant interest rates and closure of option for the debtor to fetch higher rates for his produce at places other than his creditor Arhtiyas. It clearly makes out an offence under the Bonded Labour read with Money Lender Act. I wish he had delved into this area with a rigorous examination of facts, practices informal and formal alike to remove the opacity from his intentions to act as an objective analyst.
The fact that the author has not vilianised the middlemen and highlighted the pros AND cons of them, pointing out how the state of MP managed to wean the farmers away from middlemen but yet quoted how the crop change also played a crucial role, shows the depth of her research and presentation of balanced views. Felt like reading an editorial form 30 years back when media presented facts and balanced views and not sensational biased views.
well researched. possibly need to look at the situation where a 3rd party cultivates some one elses land. the 3rd party will not get paid for his efforts if the owner of the land owner is a crook . This will happen under the new method and most of the cultivators of land are those with less land themselves or essentially landless.
thankfully – one article which more or less covers the problem reasonably. Possibly the part not covered adequately is the fate of the farmer who cultivates land on “theka”
probably there are many loosers in the direct money transfer and the are funding enough to make noise against this scheme. probably author has used all intelligence to put itself as a balanced one but indirectly argues for the broker and middlemen
If there is direct tranfer, it has hidden agenda to deprive the genuine eligibility like that of subsidy to LPG etc. Their inept handling unde the cover of religion and autocratic behaviour.
Punjab Government, instead of promoting arthiyas, in the interest of farmers should provide easy credit to farmers and find ways for the same. The way arathiyas recover their loan from MSP ,Punjab Government can recover their loan but at least farmers would save on exorbitant interest being paid to Money lenders, the Arthiyas. When Rahul Gandhi put pressure on Punjab Government
One solution to this problem could be pre-vetting of the farmer, and give access to certain amount of funds at any time of his choosing, more like over draft. He is charged interest on amounts used, and not otherwise. This will simply eliminate middlemen.
Broking is a respectable business, where brokerage is not just a finder’s fee. The broker becomes respectable when he is able to guide both the buyer and seller on the best practices that protect the financial interest of both, with in depth knowledge of the trade, product and the governing laws. In well-regulated markets the percentage of brokerage is well defined and quantified, commensurate with the exposure ensuring that no disproportionate gains can be made.
The demand of the government to become more responsive, inclusive, agile, and flexible is possible so long as the legal system provides for security against advances given. For farmers, arhatiyas so far are not only flexible and responsive in providing informal credit (at high rates), but as spot financiers, they are also reliable dispensers of timely cash, especially in the immediate post-harvest season when farmers are typically in urgent need of money to attend to multiple demands, on and off the farm. But unlike the government the recovery methods are violence based including the bonding of the women folk from the families.
As quoted earlier out of 21000 Cr. Procurement the service payment to arhartiyas amounts to only 3400 Cr while the entire 21000 Cr. goes into the hands of arhartiyas for lending financing and exploiting the farmer.
Well articulated….The author and many such Left wing thinkers want a STATUS QUO…..continuation of the existing system, even when it’s clear that Arhatiyas in reality exploitnpoor farmers.
Also ignored is the fact that Arhatiyas mostly deal in cash and thereby avoid paying Taxes while earning hundreds of crores of rupees every year.
The new system with PAN cards of Arhatiyas will also bring them in the Tax net and help improve Government’s Tqx collection.
you are the biggest peddler of utter nonsense
It is the Punjab state government’s responsibility to meet the credit requirements of a farmer. It is unfortunate that the state government has outsourced it’s responsibility to private loan sharks aka arhitiyas.
The learned author has attempted to analyze the pros and cons of the newly introduced DBT system. However, I find it quite intriguing that why the author has not shared the interest rates charged by the Arhtiyas, and the literally the bonded labor relationship that comes into existence once the farmer gets into debtor status with the Arhtiyas. The Arhtiyas survives, rather thrive on his capacity to charge the most exorbitant interest rates and closure of option for the debtor to fetch higher rates for his produce at places other than his creditor Arhtiyas. It clearly makes out an offence under the Bonded Labour read with Money Lender Act. I wish he had delved into this area with a rigorous examination of facts, practices informal and formal alike to remove the opacity from his intentions to act as an objective analyst.
The fact that the author has not vilianised the middlemen and highlighted the pros AND cons of them, pointing out how the state of MP managed to wean the farmers away from middlemen but yet quoted how the crop change also played a crucial role, shows the depth of her research and presentation of balanced views. Felt like reading an editorial form 30 years back when media presented facts and balanced views and not sensational biased views.
well researched. possibly need to look at the situation where a 3rd party cultivates some one elses land. the 3rd party will not get paid for his efforts if the owner of the land owner is a crook . This will happen under the new method and most of the cultivators of land are those with less land themselves or essentially landless.
thankfully – one article which more or less covers the problem reasonably. Possibly the part not covered adequately is the fate of the farmer who cultivates land on “theka”
probably there are many loosers in the direct money transfer and the are funding enough to make noise against this scheme. probably author has used all intelligence to put itself as a balanced one but indirectly argues for the broker and middlemen
If there is direct tranfer, it has hidden agenda to deprive the genuine eligibility like that of subsidy to LPG etc. Their inept handling unde the cover of religion and autocratic behaviour.
आढ़तिये सिर्फ उन्हीं को कर्जा देते हैं जिनसे उन्हें अपने हिसाब से कमाई और कमिशन प्राप्त होती है।
किसान एक आढ़ती को छोड़ कर दूसरे के पास नहीं जा सकता।
जब डायरेक्ट बेनिफिट ट्रांसफर बाकी सब जगह कामयाब है तो किसान को डायरेक्ट बेनिफिट ट्रांसफर करते समय क्या मुश्किल हो सकती है।
समस्या बेनामी खेती की है उनकी यहां दाल नहीं गलने वाली।
आन्दोलनजीवी और बिकाऊ मीडिया दुष्प्रचार तो खूब कर रहे हैं।
भाड़े के टट्टुओं से कुछ नहीं होने वाला।
Punjab Government, instead of promoting arthiyas, in the interest of farmers should provide easy credit to farmers and find ways for the same. The way arathiyas recover their loan from MSP ,Punjab Government can recover their loan but at least farmers would save on exorbitant interest being paid to Money lenders, the Arthiyas. When Rahul Gandhi put pressure on Punjab Government
One solution to this problem could be pre-vetting of the farmer, and give access to certain amount of funds at any time of his choosing, more like over draft. He is charged interest on amounts used, and not otherwise. This will simply eliminate middlemen.
Broking is a respectable business, where brokerage is not just a finder’s fee. The broker becomes respectable when he is able to guide both the buyer and seller on the best practices that protect the financial interest of both, with in depth knowledge of the trade, product and the governing laws. In well-regulated markets the percentage of brokerage is well defined and quantified, commensurate with the exposure ensuring that no disproportionate gains can be made.
The demand of the government to become more responsive, inclusive, agile, and flexible is possible so long as the legal system provides for security against advances given. For farmers, arhatiyas so far are not only flexible and responsive in providing informal credit (at high rates), but as spot financiers, they are also reliable dispensers of timely cash, especially in the immediate post-harvest season when farmers are typically in urgent need of money to attend to multiple demands, on and off the farm. But unlike the government the recovery methods are violence based including the bonding of the women folk from the families.
As quoted earlier out of 21000 Cr. Procurement the service payment to arhartiyas amounts to only 3400 Cr while the entire 21000 Cr. goes into the hands of arhartiyas for lending financing and exploiting the farmer.
Astounding I should say.
Kisan life in India is dependent on weather harvest loan subsidy and add to it arhatiyas.
Esteemed professor has so beautifully peddled pros and pros of arhatiyas that is believed to be figment of vivid imagination a lie.
Let kisan be their own masters. They will find their own ways to financial independence after years slavery.
Arhatiyas were not keeping the farmers perpetually poor but also dearly costing the exchequer.
Sorry to say this charade had to be stopped wonder why it took so long.
If this is the kind of education we are imparted no wonder we are producing slaves and extolling this virtue.
Well articulated….The author and many such Left wing thinkers want a STATUS QUO…..continuation of the existing system, even when it’s clear that Arhatiyas in reality exploitnpoor farmers.
Also ignored is the fact that Arhatiyas mostly deal in cash and thereby avoid paying Taxes while earning hundreds of crores of rupees every year.
The new system with PAN cards of Arhatiyas will also bring them in the Tax net and help improve Government’s Tqx collection.
you are the biggest peddler of utter nonsense
It is the Punjab state government’s responsibility to meet the credit requirements of a farmer. It is unfortunate that the state government has outsourced it’s responsibility to private loan sharks aka arhitiyas.