Green tractor scheme: South Punjab farmers cry foul over balloting

Say PML-Q and PPP members from Shujabad and Jalalpur Pirwala were ignored because of their political affiliation.

MULTAN/ FAISALABAD/ LAHORE:

Computerised balloting for the Green Tractor Scheme failed to stop the farmers, who did not get a tractor, from accusing the Punjab government of ‘nepotism and favouritism’.

The 2012-13 scheme, which was announced in June, aimed at giving farmers – who own at least 2.5 acres of land – a Rs200,000 subsidy on the purchase of a tractor. A total of 10,000 tractors will be given away this year. Applications were accepted till August 31 and computerised balloting was conducted across the province on Monday.

In Multan, 538 tractors were to be distributed among farmers for which 6,500 applications were received. The balloting ceremony held at the Arts Council turned sour when farmers, who were not selected, started shouting slogans against the government. They said the poor had not been selected in the ballot.

Minister for Zakat and Ushr Nadeem Kamran, who was the chief guest, left halfway through the ceremony after things threatened to get out of hand.

As many as 214 of Multan city farmers, 128 farmers from Multan Saddar, 95 from Shujaabad and 81 from Jalalpur Pirwala got a tractor.

The protesters claimed that PML-Q and PPP members from Shujabad and Jalalpur Pirwala were ignored because of their political affiliation.

“There was nepotism,” said Malik Khuda Baksh Arain, a Shujaabad farmer. “The tractors were given to people who don’t need them. They will sell them,” he said.

Another farmer Malik Imtiaz, from Shahpur village, said only PML-N workers and farmers close to PML-N MPAs received the tractors. “We were deprived because we are poor and do not belong to the favoured political party,” said Imtiaz.

“Today is your lucky day if you belong to the PML-N but tough luck if you are a member of the opposition,” said Jalalpur Pirwala farmer Maqsood Ahmed.

DCO Zahid Akhtar Zaman,however, dismissed the criticism. “It was because of such allegations in the past that the government opted for computerised balloting. There is no room for it now.” “The critics are accusing a computer of favouritism,” he remarked, adding that nothing else can be done to satisfy everybody.

Some of the farmers demanded that the chief minister order a re-ballot and that the government verify whether all those who applied were included in the ballot.

Minister for Auqaf Haji Ehsanuddin Qureshi ruled out a re-ballot while talking to The Express Tribune. “Those who won had luck on their side,” Qureshi said. He added that it was only in Multan that some farmers had complained, “There have been no complaints from any other district.”

Unlike Multan, the balloting in Faisalabad, Lahore and Sargodha went on smoothly.

MNA Malik Pervaiz inaugurated the computerised balloting for Lahore district at the Alhamra Hall.

Under the scheme, 790 tractors have been earmarked for Lahore, read a handout issued on Monday. A total of 1,381 applications were received – 932 applications were received from Lahore Cantt for 376 tractors and 449 applications were received for 414 tractors allocated for the City.

Addressing the ceremony, Malik Pervaiz said the Punjab government was helping farmers increase per acre yield by switching to mechanised agriculture.

In Faisalabad the balloting was held at Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Auditorium.

DO (Agriculture) Chaudhry Abdul Hameed told The Tribune that 611 tractors had been allocated for Faisalabad district. A total of 8,699 applications were received of which 6,417 applications were shortlisted for the draw.

121 tractors were distributed among farmers from Faisalabad city, 198 were given to farmers from Faisalabad Saddar, 70 to those from Tandlianwala, 63 to those belonging to Samundri, 128 to those from Jaranwala and 31 to farmers from Chah Jhumra.

MPAs Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Khwaja Muhammad Islam, Joel Aamir Sahutra, Rai Ejaz Hussain Kharal, EDO Agriculture Ishtiaq Hassan and DO (Coordination) Muhammad Akrim Bhatti were among those present.

Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan congratulated the successful farmers and urged them to make full use of the tractors.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2012.