Complaints on kisan mandis, Mamata Banerjee asks farmers to lodge FIRs if harassed

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday warned about the various complaints she has been receiving on the functioning of farmers’ markets or kisan mandis in the state. “Anyone who does not take responsibility need not be in power,” she said.

“The chief secretary is here, the district magistrate is here and so are those involved in the running of cold storages. There are allegations that farmers are turned down and have to return kisan mandis without their produce getting purchased,” she said. Banerjee asked farmers to go to the BDO office or the police station to lodge complaints if their produce is not purchased on time and if they face harassment. She said such a case was reported in Bankura and the government has taken action. “The farmers are our real treasure. In the past 11 years, our produce of foodgrains has increased by 57 lakh tonne,” she said.

On Monday, the CM implemented a project to grant cash benefits to 79 lakh farmers worth over Rs 2,000 crore. She announced the project in Burdwan district under the new Krishakbandhu project. Under the project, farmers will get a benefit of Rs 10,000 each that will be directly sent to their bank accounts from the state government.