Odisha BJP Krushak Morcha Demands Vigilance Probe Into Paddy Procurement

Cuttack: Odisha unit of BJP Krushak Morcha has demanded Vigilance probe into irregularities in paddy procurement by the rice millers from mandis to save the farmers from sustaining loss across the state.

A delegation of the Morcha submitted a memorandum regarding corruption involved in the mandi system to Vigilance DG in Cuttack on Monday. They pointed out that every mandi has been issued a machine to measure fair average quality (FAQ) of the paddy brought by the farmers. But the mandi officials are not using the machines and instead deducting 4-10 kg from a quintal on a random basis, leading the farmers to sustain loss, they said in the memorandum.

They further said due to unholy nexus among rice millers, mandi officials, officials of Regulated Market Committee (RMC) and Supply department, the farmers are unable to get the due amount for their produce. The farmers do not get the minimum support price (MSP) of the government for paddy at Rs 2,040 per quintal. As the mandis do not procure the paddy in time under pressure from the millers, the farmers are forced to resort to distress sale at a much lower cost that the MSP, the Morcha leaders claimed.

Moreover, the mandi are not following the prescribed norms for the token system during paddy procurement. They are neither informing the farmers about the date of procurement beforehand nor putting up the notice on the office premises. As the farmers are not informed about the date, their tokens get lapsed and they find themselves in a desperate situation, said the BJP leaders.

The Morcha leaders demanded that if the Vigilance investigates how much paddy has been procured by the millers from mandi and how much loaded on their trucks, the irregularities can be detected and the farmers saved from sustaining loss.

In absence of Vigilance DG, DIG R Prakash received the memorandum from the Morcha members and assured them that an SP rank officer would look into their demands.