Paddy bonus to be given through online banking

In a move that could cut down on delay, the Punjab government has chalked out a plan to credit the paddy bonus of over Rs 650 crore to more than 1 crore farmers directly in their bank accounts through online banking system. Announcing this here on Friday, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon said usually, there was an inordinate delay in making payment of bonus and sometimes, disputes lingered on for years. “To improve the system and ensure immediate payment, this decision has been taken,” he said. He said that he had called a meeting of GM of all leading banks of the state and advised them to open zero-balance accounts free of cost for farmers. The Centre has already approved the system.