'Empowering market committees is necessary to protect farmers': Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

MUMBAI: While developing state-level markets in line with nationally recognised markets, the interests of farmers in the state should be protected, said deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.Market committee members are elected from among the public representatives. They represent farmers and various sections of society. It is in the interest of farmers and society to maintain the rights of these members.This will make the market committees more efficient and stronger.A meeting was organised under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at the Ministry to discuss issues such as developing state-level markets in line with the national market, reforming the Agricultural Produce Market Committee tax, maintenance and repair of Agricultural Produce Market Committees, difficulties with goods and services tax, problems with business tax of small industries and traders, and providing land for the steel market in Kalamboli through CIDCO.Many issues were also raised by the business community in the meeting. The meeting also discussed the issue of consistency in GST levy and stopping unnecessary trouble for traders. The demands made by the trade associations regarding reforms in the GST collection system to prevent tax evasion will be positively considered. In the upcoming meeting of the GST Council, the demands of the traders will be raised and efforts will be made to resolve their problems.Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also gave instructions in the meeting to create a safer environment in the industry and trade sector.The meeting was attended by Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha, Marketing Minister Jayakumar Rawal, Additional Chief Secretary in-charge of Finance Department Saurabh Vijay, Principal Secretary of Cooperation and Marketing Department Praveen Darade, State Tax Commissioner Ashish Sharma, Managing Director of CIDCO Vijay Singhal (via VC), Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister Dr.Rajesh Deshmukh, Director General of Mahaurja Dr. Kadambari Balakawade, Marketing Director Vikas Rasal, Federation of Associations of India President Jitendra Shah, MASSMA President Chandan Bhansali, Navi Mumbai APMC Director Sudhir Kothari (through VC), and other dignitaries.As per the provisions of the new 2017 Act of the Central Government's Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, a proposal has been submitted to the government to amend the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development and Regulation) Act, 1963, to establish a Nationally Notified Market Committee and to convert the existing Market Committee into a Nationally Notified Market Committee.Accordingly, after the National Market Committee is established, the government will appoint nominated persons to the committee. The meeting also discussed the development of state-level markets in line with national markets. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar directed that a decision in this regard should be taken only after discussing with the representatives of the farmers.