Berhampur,Despite all initiatives for transparent and smooth procurement of paddy by the Ganjam district administration,lack of co-ordination and callous attitude by the staffs of various departments,the procurement is going on in a snails pace.The administration opened mandi`s in the district in phase wise since 3/1/2025.With procurement centres yet to open in several areas of Ganjam,the farmers anticipating the worst,have been resorting to distress sale of paddy on a clandastine mode.During a visit to Digapahandi,Patrapur,Chikiti,Chatrapur etc blcoks today it was seen that mandi`s were opened,but no godown,rather make shift rooms with polythene cover are used as a transit centre.At the temporary sheds paddy sacks stored to be lifted by millers in Chatrapur block.On the otherhand the farmers kept their paddy sacks covered with hay and polythene sheets in Chikiti block,while the farmers of Patrapur,Digapahandi,have stocked their paddy at the places of their own.The irony is that the farmers have received their token,but no one is there to purchase their paddy.The farmers has alleged that,they were asked to wait to get a slip for millers,where to dump their paddy.Actually this year the district collector Dibyajyoti parida has directed the personals entrusted with procurement to purchase the paddy at identified procurement centres.As the situation brought to the notice of the collector today, he said,no lapses on procurement be tolerated and erring persons will be dealt severely.The procurement has already started and sufficient time has been given to the farmers to sell their paddy.Meanwhile the assessment of the crop damage due to rain last month,has completed and disbursement of assistance has already started.Worse,officials overseeing the procurement process have no answers to the concerns of the farmers,who are now guarding their paddy almost under the open sky.As such,procurement is controlled by the Food Supplies department.However,the district civil supply officer Puspa munda still busy in compiling the details of procurement centres and millers.The CSO said this year 362 millers appointed to lift the procured paddy.As per the norms designated millers should be given Miller Aauthority slip (MAS) and PACS/SHG tagged to the millers receive Society Authority Slip(SAS) from the CSO,but the office remained mum about the number of MAS and SAS generated.The appointed millers need to deposit a mimimum of Rs one lakh to lift paddy worth of Rs six lakhs,whose details also not available with the office.Surprisingly,now when lack of godown is the main unsolved problem,most of the mills has been packed with paddy sacks,although the procurement is at initial stage.Simanchal nahak of Rushikulya Rayat mohasabha has alleged that a nexus of millers and officials of the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department has made the paddy procurement automation system,a mockery by allowing unscrupulous traders and landless farmers to snatch away the benefits from genuine registered farmers.PIX:View of the mandi funtions in a makeshift tent at Rukunigaon society in Chatrapur block.
