Politics seems to have overpowered common good once again. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has blocked a proposal to de-list vegetables and fruits from the Agricultural Produce Market Committee. MiD DAY had reported on how the state agriculture and marketing board had released a circular, allowing farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers, instead of routing it through wholesale traders (‘Expect a drastic drop in fruit, veg prices, January 8).

The proposal to de-list vegetables and fruits from the APMC would invite ire from the approximately 4,000 mathadi workers as there will be less work and less remuneration for them