A significant legal challenge has been mounted against alleged systemic irregularities in Odisha's paddy procurement process. A Berhampur-based organisation has approached the Orissa High Court seeking judicial intervention to halt what it describes as widespread 'illegal practices' by procurement agencies and officials across multiple districts.
Petition Names Top Officials, Alleges Widespread Malpractice
In a petition filed on Friday, the private organisation has made several high-ranking officials opposite parties in the case. These include the principal secretaries of the food supplies and consumer welfare, agriculture and farmers’ empowerment, and cooperation departments, as well as the managing director of the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation. The plea also scrutinises the roles of district collectors, civil supply officers, assistant registrars of cooperative societies, and secretaries of service cooperative societies.
The core allegation is a blatant disregard for the official procurement system. Despite the government notifying designated mandis and issuing tokens to farmers specifying the date, time, and quantity for sale, farmers are being compelled to transport paddy directly to private millers. This is particularly acute in districts like Ganjam, Gajapati, and Rayagada, where millers are situated far from villages—sometimes up to 50 kilometers away—forcing farmers to bear hefty transportation costs.
Unauthorized Deductions and Collusion Cause Heavy Losses
The petition details a series of exploitative practices causing direct financial harm to farmers. It alleges that paddy is not being lifted according to the quantity mentioned in the official tokens. Furthermore, unauthorized deductions of 5-7 kg per quintal are being made, falsely citing quality issues.
In a major blow to farm incomes, the petition claims that millers and cooperative officials are illegally charging farmers for labour and packaging. This results in staggering losses of approximately Rs 150 to Rs 200 per quintal for the cultivators. The organisation pointed out a stark contradiction: while the government is supposed to bear the cost of jute bags and transportation, farmers are neither provided free gunny bags nor reimbursed for transport expenses.
Defective Equipment and Market Collusion
The grievances extend to basic infrastructure. In Deogarh district, the petition highlights the use of defective weighing machines, causing additional losses. Most critically, the plea alleges a collusion between millers and officials to procure paddy from the open market at rates lower than the government's Minimum Support Price (MSP), thereby depriving farmers of their rightful income.
Despite farmers submitting representations to district authorities, their grievances have remained unresolved, leading to this judicial appeal. Seeking relief, the organisation has urged the High Court to direct authorities to:
- Make all declared mandis fully operational.
- Ensure procurement strictly adheres to tokens and MSP without illegal deductions.
- Mandate the use of proper, certified weighing machines.
- Reimburse transportation and jute bag costs to farmers as per policy.
The case brings to light significant potential flaws in the implementation of Odisha's paddy procurement system, putting the promised economic safety net for farmers under serious legal scrutiny.
