Bhubaneswar, March 31 (IANS) The opposition Congress on Tuesday claimed to have exposed a massive scam going on in the paddy procurement system in Odisha during the Kharif season at the cost of farmers, allegedly involving a collusion between millers, concerned government officials, and the state Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Pradesh Kisan Congress President Abhay Kumar Sahu and senior Congress leader Sudarshan Das claimed that irregularities in procurement have deprived thousands of farmers of fair earnings. They said that despite procurement targets, nearly 1.13 lakh farmers are yet to sell their paddy, highlighting serious gaps in the system.

The party demanded that the state government take immediate steps for the procurement of paddy from these 1.13 lakh farmers who registered themselves to sell their paddy. The Congress leaders alleged that a nexus between rice millers, officials of the Food Supplies Department, and cooperative societies has enabled manipulation and diversion of funds.

According to the senior Congress leader Das, an “80:20 formula” is being followed in the procurement of paddy across the state. The Farmers are reportedly assured that their entire produce will be purchased, but in practice, they receive payments for the full quantity while being forced to return the value of 20 per cent to millers, resulting in financial loss.

The party also alleged widespread irregular deductions, with millers cutting 10–11 kg per quintal arbitrarily. Based on procurement figures of over 76.84 lakh metric tonnes, a deduction of 8 kg per quintal, the Congress claimed that such deductions translate into nearly 6 lakh metric tonnes of excess paddy taken from farmers, that valued at over Rs 1,500 crore.

Citing specific instances, the leaders alleged irregularities worth around Rs 46.5 lakh in a cooperative society in Jaleswar, adding that similar practices are prevalent across a majority of the state’s 4,277 cooperative societies.

The Congress further alleged that the scam is taking place with the knowledge of the concerned minister and the involvement of officials and ruling party leaders.

Demanding immediate corrective measures, the party warned that it will launch a statewide agitation in April if the government fails to procure paddy from all farmers and address the alleged corruption in the system.

–IANS

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