Bring Aadhaar to buy potatoes! Purulia adminitration issues new rules to curb black-marketing

In response to rising concerns over the black market for potatoes, the administration in Purulia, a border district of West Bengal near Jharkhand, has introduced new regulations requiring buyers to present their Aadhaar card to purchase potatoes at wholesale rates. The move, which began on Friday, has sparked significant debate among potato traders and residents in the area.

According to local potato traders, buyers now need to show their Aadhaar card and provide their phone number to purchase potatoes. This measure aims to ensure that potatoes are sold only to residents of Purulia district, rather than being smuggled into neighboring Jharkhand.

Gautam Gorai, a potato seller in the district, explained, “Giving potatoes by looking at an Aadhaar card has started from yesterday. We cannot say why an Aadhaar card is required. The instructions have arrived. Probably because the price of potatoes had increased. I have taken potatoes for Rs. 1700-1800.”

Another potato seller, Surjit Sen, added, "The administration said that potatoes should be sold by looking at the identity card and address proof so that potatoes do not go to Jharkhand. Our Purulia is the border of Jharkhand. For that, we are taking address proof from buyers. We are looking at the address in Aadhaar and selling potatoes accordingly.”

The administration's decision seems to be an effort to control the escalating market price of potatoes and prevent smuggling into Jharkhand. However, the new rules have led to frustration among buyers, who now have to show their Aadhaar cards and sometimes even seek permission from the district police if they wish to purchase more than a few sacks of potatoes.

Shyamal Chattopadhyay, Chairman of the Purulia District Cooperative Union, expressed his concerns about the new rules, stating, "Potatoes are a staple in people's daily lives. Requiring an Aadhaar card for buying potatoes raises questions. If there is a severe potato shortage, then perhaps such measures could be justified. However, it remains to be seen whether the current potato crisis is real or if traders are manipulating the situation. As someone involved in the cooperative movement, I believe selling potatoes through cooperatives might not be the best solution."