After Minister’s Warning, Odisha Collector Probes ‘Katni-Chhatni’ Allegation Posing As Farmer

Bhadrak: Dressed in shorts and a T-shirt with a ‘gamcha’ over his shoulders, Bhadrak Collector Dilip Routrai recently visited Katasahi mandi under Dhamnagar block of the district to investigate allegations of ‘katni-chhatni’ (undue price deductions in paddy procurement).

According to sources, he parked his vehicle at a distance and he walked to Katasahi PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Society) on Saturday, wearing a cap and a face mask while pretending to be a farmer. He then interacted with farmers there, and observed the procurement process firsthand. He also attempted to sell paddy using another farmer’s token.

The allegation was proved to be true when the cooperative official informed him that around 8 kg of paddy would be deducted as wastage. Following this, the collector issued a show-cause notice to the officials concerned on the spot.

Routrai took this step as allegations of “farmers falling prey to the machinations of the PACS and the Millers”. continued despite the district administration’s meetings and instructions against ‘katni-chhatni’.

“The allegations made against your PACS was found to be true and therefore you are asked to show cause why action as deemed proper shall not be initiated against you,” read the show-cause notice issued to the secretary of Katsahi PACS.

The officials concerned have been to file their response within two days failing which action deemed proper would be initiated against them.

This came six days after Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that the government was not getting desired cooperation from officers to end the rice millers’ control over paddy procurement. The minister added that he was instead advised by a senior bureaucrat to not go deep into the paddy procurement process and try to curb the practice of ‘katni-chhatni’ by rice millers during purchase of the produce from farmers at the mandis.

Patra also warned of action against officials irrespective of their positions if they did not change their mindset and were hand-in-glove with rice millers.

The Odisha government provides Rs 3,100, which includes input assistance of Rs 800 per quintal paddy in addition to the MSP of Rs 2,300.