Bhubaneswar, March 31 – The opposition Congress claimed on Tuesday that it had exposed a massive scam in the paddy procurement system in Odisha during the Kharif season, which was allegedly costing farmers their fair earnings due to collusion between millers, 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 had deprived thousands of farmers of fair earnings. They said that despite procurement targets, nearly 1.13 lakh farmers have not yet sold their paddy, highlighting serious gaps in the system.
The party demanded that the state government take immediate steps to procure paddy from these 1.13 lakh farmers who had registered 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 senior Congress leader Das, an "80:20 formula" is being followed in the procurement of paddy across the state. 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 arbitrarily cutting 10-11 kg per quintal. Based on procurement figures of over 76.84 lakh metric tonnes, the Congress claimed that such deductions translate into nearly 6 lakh metric tonnes of excess paddy taken from farmers, which is 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.