Kurukshetra – Wednesday marked the second back‑to‑back day of the state‑run paddy procurement drive, yet a sizable chunk of cultivators remain entangled in the maze of gate‑pass formalities. Government data show that 6,997 metric tonnes of rice were bought across just 13 of the 22 grain markets operating in the district.
Hunger Strike Ignites at Thanesar Mandi
Ex‑sarpanch of Kaithla Khurd, Rajendra Singh, grew exasperated with the holdup and began an open‑ended fast outside the Thanesar Market Committee. He was promptly joined by members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) – Shaheed Bhagat Singh wing – who mounted a day‑long sit‑in to amplify their demands.
Singh recounted that his freshly harvested paddy had been sitting idle in the market for nearly ten days. For the past four days he made daily trips to the committee seeking a gate‑pass, questioning why administrative lag was being shouldered by the farmer when crop verification is a governmental duty.
Officials Vow Faster Verification
Attempts to calm the situation continued through the evening. Thanesar MLA Ashok Arora visited the protest site, and Market Committee Secretary Harjit Singh later announced that verification of Singh’s 14‑acre parcel was finally concluded, assuring that no further procedural hurdles would impede the sale.
Despite the reassurance, farmer representatives warned that such bottlenecks have become a seasonal routine, compelling growers to wrestle with basic procurement services year after year. The demonstration lingered well into the night.
Wider Significance
The incident highlights the escalating challenges faced by growers as Haryana intensifies its paddy procurement campaign. Persistent issues around crop verification and the mandatory gate‑pass system are fueling farmer discontent, underscoring the urgent need for a more efficient, farmer‑centric framework.
