Odisha Assembly Concerned Over Token System For Paddy Procurement

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Bhubaneswar: Members cutting across party lines expressed grave concern in the State Assembly on Wednesday over the online token system for paddy procurement.

Demanding scrapping of the online token system, BJD MLA of Bargarh Debesh Acharya said the farmers should not be put into unnecessary trouble in the name of transparency.

Supporting his party colleague, Redhakhol MLA Rohit Pujari said that it had delayed the paddy procurement process. “The farmers are not sure when paddy will be procured as they are yet to receive their token,” he added.

BJD MLA of Padampur Bijaya Ranjan Singh Bariha alleged that the millers are not paying the price of the gunny to the farmers after taking paddy for milling. The online token system should be withdrawn immediately to facilitate the farmers to sell their paddy in a specified timeline, he added.

Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare minister Ranendra Pratap Swain defended the online token system and said that it was introduced to provide the actual price to the farmers. “It has been decided that the farmers, who have received the token but are not able to sell their paddy at the procurement centre for some reasons will be allowed to sell their produce in an unauthenticated mode,” he added.

The Minister, however, said that there was no question of withdrawing the Aadhaar seeding provision during the registration of the farmers it would then give access to the traders of the neighbouring states.

Apart from the ruling members, the opposition BJP and Congress members also expressed their concern over the issue.