Jharkhand Foodgrain wholesalers strike called off after CM’s intervention 

Agriculture minister and CM’s secretary meet FJCCI delegation 

Ranchi, February 18: Food wholesalers on Saturday decided to postpone their agitation following a meeting with agriculture minister Badal Patralekh and chief minister’s secretary and assurance for consultation before finalising market fee.

Earlier acting on directive of chief minister Hemant Soren, agriculture minister Badal Patralekh and chief minister’s secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey met a delegation of Federation of Jharkhand Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI)  over the two percent market fee to be levied under the Jharkhand State Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Bill-2022.

The agriculture minister said that maximum limit of tax imposition in the market fee has been fixed at two percent. Tax is to be determined according to food grains and commodities. In such a situation, the market fee of all the food grains will be different.

 The Agriculture Minister said that a situation of confusion is being created among businessmen and people related to mandis by saying that two percent market fee will be imposed on every food grain. Whereas, the market fee of each food grain will be determined separately. At the same time, the maximum limit of this tax will be 2 percent.

The minister assured the delegation that before preparing the rules related to market fee, opinion of farmers, businessmen and representatives associated with mandis will be taken.

Vinay Kumar Choubey told the delegation that the system of market fee collection would be simplified through Information Technology (IT). Mandi tax collection system will be completely transparent and traders will not face any problem regarding this.

The Agriculture Minister said that the mandi fee will not have any adverse effect on the rice mills and the businessmen associated with it and that every efforts would be made in promoting mill owners.

FJCCI president said that on the positive assurance of agriculture minister and the chief minister’s secretary they decided to postpone the state-wide agitation going on for the last four days.

The traders had alleged due to the effect of this bill, the corruption of officials will prevail in agriculture, agro-based industries. The delegation clearly kept the point of reducing the fee to zero, on which the Agriculture Minister promised that all the demands of the Jharkhand Chamber will be considered, without the consent of the Chamber, the rules of the bill will not be made.