CHANDIGARH: In an attempt to reform and frame a code of conduct for the unorganised money lending system, especially for the farm sector in the State, commission agents in Punjab have agreed to issue passbooks to farmers in which entries of all credit and debit would be made and necessary records would be maintained.

This was announced by Punjab's Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Lal Singh while presiding over a meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee constituted on the issue, according to an official release.

Mr Singh disclosed that the commission agents, who were referred to as "arhtiya" in local parlance, had accepted the Government's proposal for a one-time settlement of the outstanding loans. Accordingly, a policy of "one plus one" would be adopted. Under the policy if a farmer had returned double the amount of the loan, the remainder would be waived off.

Mr. Singh said the commission agents had agreed that they would include nominal overhead expenses in the interest on the loan advanced to farmers. The agents also agreed to charge simple interest only. He said these steps had been taken to provide relief to the farmers as well as help in developing cordial relations with the commission agents.

`Out of court' redressal

The meeting decided in favour of constituting Dispute Settlement Committees at mandi (local grain market), district and state levels for "out of court'' redressal of the grievances of farmers. The committee at the mandi level would include farmers concerned and Sarpanch of the respective village panchayats, concerned commission agent, mandi pradhan, secretary of the market committee and the local inspector of the Food and Supplies Department.

The president of the commission agents' association would convene the meeting and the secretary of the market committee would preside over the meetings. The president of the Punjab Commission Agents' Association, Bal Krishan Singla, assured the Cabinet sub-committee that the decisions of the meeting would be implemented in letter and in spirit.

Industries and Commerce Minister Avtar Henry, Cooperation Minister Amarjit Singh Samra, and Finance and Health Minister Surinder Singla attended the meeting, which was also attended by Financial Commissioner (Revenue) K.K. Bhatnagar and senior office-bearers of the Commission Agents' Association.

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