Punjab arthiyas to go on strike over DBT scheme

State Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Thursday had said the state government was left with “no choice” but to implement the DBT scheme from the current season as Centre said it will not lift the grains if the new system was not followed.

Punjab wheat procurement, wheat procurement DBT, Punjab arhtiyas, Punjab DBT procurement, indian express

The ‘arthiyas’ in Punjab Friday said they will go on strike on April 10, the first day of the Rabi procurement season, to protest against the state government’s decision to implement direct bank transfer (DBT) of the minimum support price (MSP) to farmers bypassing them.

“All 27,000 arthiyas (commission agents) across Punjab will observe the strike. We will boycott the procurement and keep the mandis closed. We will allow the farmers to unload the produce but would not undertake any other operation. Let the government decide how to handle this glut,” Federation of Arthiya Association president Vijay Kalra said.

State Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Thursday had said the state government was left with “no choice” but to implement the DBT scheme from the current season as Centre said it will not lift the grains if the new system was not followed.

On Friday, Amarjeet Singh Brar, senior vice president of Punjab Arhtiya Federation said, “All our shops inside over 150 mandis of Punjab will remain closed on Saturday as well as on Sunday and we will not participate in any procurement drive.”

20,000 e-passes issued

Meanwhile, more than 20,000 e-passes for procurement have been issued to ahrtiyas by Punjab Mandi Board which have to be distributed to the farmers who will be coming to mandis Saturday morning for selling their crops.

Punjab Mandi Board chairman Lal Singh Friday said the government has set up Covid-19 vaccination camps in all 154 market committees to ensure seamless wheat procurement. To avoid crowd and congestion in the mandis, the number of purchase centres has been increased from 1,872 to 4,000 with the target to procure 130 lakh tonnes (LT) of wheat, he said, adding the state government is “fully committed to procuring every single grain of wheat from the mandis”. However, if the cleaning and filling of grains in sacks is not taken up, there could be a glut of wheat in the mandis.

Talks with govt yield no result

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The Arhtiyas Association of Punjab, led by Ravinder Singh Cheema, was first to announce the strike after discussions during a virtual meeting with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, Food Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, and PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla failed.

Kalra announced his association’s decision in the evening. Kalra said they were “hopeful that the Punjab government will come out with some suggestions over the issue”. “Arthiyas will also hold a state-level meeting at Ludhiana on Saturday to chalk out the next course of action once the Punjab government puts forward its suggestions on the MSP payment to farmers,” he added.

Cheema said as the Punjab government was not able to protect the “rights of arhtiyas”, they will tell the government about their importance. “If arhtiyas are not needed in the system, why is wheat sold at Rs 1,100 per quintal in UP? The arhtiyas work for 16-18 hours a day to handle the quantum of the produce harvested in Punjab. Only then it is handled. Let them try out the operations without the participation of arhtiyas this time. They will understand,” said Cheema.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More