CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government has, in collaboration with OLA, developed a unique centralized automated, logic-based technology platform for issuance of e-Passes to the 17 lakh odd farmers in the state, along with online management and regulation of all trolleys and vehicular movement in the Mandis.
The initiative/app has been adopted by the Punjab Mandi Board to launch an e-Pass system with the help of Department of Governance Reforms and Public Grievances, in an effort to further streamline the procurement operations in the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis.
The OLA app, installed on the mobile phones of the farmers, shall also alert them on the rush spots at the Mandi gates to check overcrowding. The centralized dashboard of the app, a unique initiative aligned to the social distancing guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, shall also give alerts on pass issuance, expiry and validation.
This unique system enables Secretaries of Market Committees across the State to generate mobility passes for farmers by the Purchase Centers as well as by the Ahrtiyas. The software generates the required number of passes automatically, based on historic data available with the Mandi Board.
All Artiyas shall be provided with one pass for one Trolley of wheat. The passes for a particular day are provided 3 days before that day to the Artiyas, to prevent any kind of rush. This automated technology solution removes all unnecessary bias and opportunities of favouritism, thus bringing in transparency to the process.