Editor’s Note
This report highlights a protest by traders at an agricultural market, who halted produce auctions in response to fines and vehicle seizures by transport authorities. The action left farmers in a difficult position, underscoring tensions between regulatory enforcement and local agricultural commerce.
In protest against the Transport Department’s actions of issuing challans (fines) and seizing tractor-trolleys at the agricultural produce market (mandi), traders on Friday did not conduct the auction of produce that arrived at the mandi. Consequently, farmers remained troubled throughout the day.
According to information, the Truck Union had been staging a dharna (sit-in protest) outside the District Transport Department office, warning the department against overloaded and modified tractor-trolleys transporting goods from the agricultural produce mandi to warehouses. Following this, the Transport Department took action on Thursday, seizing about one and a half dozen tractor-trolleys and imposing fines. The dharna continued into the second day.
In protest against this, traders did not conduct the auction of farmers’ paddy and other crops. Traders explained that for years, the loading and transportation of goods purchased from the mandi to their destinations had been carried out using tractor-trolleys. However, under pressure from the Truck Union, the Transport Department suddenly initiated this action. They stated that until they receive some relief regarding transportation, they will not purchase goods.
– Farmer Amritpal Singh, who brought goods to the mandi from Suwasa.
People associated with the Truck Union have long been demanding that goods from the mandi be transported by trucks to their destinations. However, due to the stubbornness of traders, tractor-trolleys have been overloaded beyond capacity, carrying as much goods as trucks. This has led to trucks standing idle, deepening the livelihood crisis for truck operators, prompting them to take the path of agitation.
After the auction of crops lying in the mandi did not take place, the district administration took the initiative and brokered a settlement. According to this, as per a previous agreement, traders’ own goods from the mandi to the factory will be transported only by their own tractor-trolleys. Tractor-trolleys of hamals (porters) or anyone else will not be hired. Furthermore, traders will have to employ trucks to transport goods from the factory to the warehouse. Violators of these orders will face a fine of one lakh rupees.
– Kranti Kumar Meena, Mandi Secretary, Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Kunwarati, Bundi