SCHEME AIMED AT SAFEGUARDING THE INTERESTS OF FARMERS- ADC

Jalandhar,
Gearing up for introducing Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme on subsidized fertilizers from December 1, the district administration today organized a training session for retail dealers and officers of the cooperative department.

Inaugurating the training, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mr. Jasbir Singh said that the DBT scheme has been introduced with the motive to prevent diversion of subsidized fertilizers for industrial use and benefit the farmers. He said that this scheme would safeguard the interests of farmers by helping to check the pilferage of subsidies meant for farmers. Mr. Jasbir Singh said that this scheme would be implemented through the Point-of-Sale (PoS) machines that would capture sales data including the identity of the farmer and quantity of fertilizer purchased by him.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner said that the farmers would just have to bring their Adhaar cards while purchasing the fertilizers as their identity proof. He said that the farmers could opt for any mode of payment for the purchase of subsidized fertilizers through these machines. Mr. Jasbir Singh said that this training intends to upgrade the expertise of the retail dealers and the officers of cooperative societies to handle these machines.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Balwinder Singh Cheena said that this scheme would not have any impact on the price of the fertiseliers and the farmers would get it on the prevalent subsidized rates. He said that the scheme was fully in the interests of the farmers adding that the farmers must cooperate them for making this scheme a huge success. Dr. Cheena also asked the farmers to not get swayed away by the malicious propaganda regarding the scheme on social media as it was totally irrational and irrelevant.

On the occasion various retail dealers and officers of Cooperative and Agriculture departments were also present.