Mumbai: The Mathadi workers who had decided to demonstrate an indefinite strike against the Agriculture Produce Marketing Development and Regulation Act Ordinance will likely end the strike as the state government on Wednesday withdrew the ordinance.
The market at APMC had been closed since Tuesday to protest against the decision taken by the government, denotifying all agri-commodities from the purview of markets and letting the farmers and traders sell produces freely without the compulsion of middlemen.
According to the committee, since Tuesday, the arrivals and despatch of vegetables had been stopped, as the market was observing a shut down. “Because of the new ordinance and the service charge, we won’t be able to compete with traders and farmers that will be selling produces outside the market. Who would want to purchase the vegetables and grains at the Mandi, when they can get them at lower prices,” said an Agricultural Produce Market Committee trader requesting anonymity.
The workers had also stated that the newly-introduced electronic payment for commodities would have turned out to be drastic for the small vendors. “Small transactions are conducted in cash and most of the vendors and pheriwalas, that constitute as their buyers, do not have bank accounts," said Bhimji Bhanushali, secretary of the Grain, Rice and Oilseeds Merchants Association (GROMA).
Traders had urged that many farmers and small vendors do not have a bank account which could enable online transactions. They also had stated that since the commission agents also submit PAN cards and Aadhaar cards during transactions, it ensures their accountability.
