Chaos in paddy procurement centers due to impractical order

Raipur. Despite the Chief Minister’s public assurance regarding extending the date of paddy procurement as per the need, the impractical orders being given by the administration in order to earn applause by completing the target of paddy procurement by the fixed date of 31st January, have created chaos in the paddy procurement centres. While the procurement has gone awry due to increasing the target of procurement every day amid the problem of Hamala, the procurement is on the verge of stopping in most of the centers due to jamming of paddy in the centers due to lack of effective transportation.

Due to the apprehension that the procurement date may not be extended due to the administrative attitude, there is a race among the farmers to deliver paddy to the centres, while the in-charges of the centers are in panic due to the fear of action if they are not able to meet the set target. In view of the situation, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti convener Bhupendra Sharma has sent a memorandum to Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai and Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain by mail on Tuesday demanding immediate extension of the purchase date till 15th February.

It may be noted that the previous Congress government, which was in power in the state, had decided to purchase paddy till January 31 and had set a target of purchasing a fixed quantity of paddy per day for each centre. Chief Minister Shri Sai, who came to power after the change of power, had given public assurance of extending the purchase date if necessary, but the official announcement has not been made yet.

Giving information in the memorandum sent about the assurance not being implemented yet and the administration increasing the daily procurement target, there is chaos in the centers, Mr. Sharma has written that due to this, a message is being sent to the farmers and center in-charges. That the purchase date will not be extended due to which a situation of conflict has started.

Information has been given in the memorandum that due to not getting the wages as per the demand and due to forceful employment guarantee work being started under administrative pressure, the laborers for filling paddy, stitching and stacking the paddy are not being found and the paddy being purchased is not being used effectively. Due to lack of transportation and space for purchasing paddy, procurement is on the verge of stopping in most of the centres.

Due to lack of space to keep the paddy on the platforms designated by the government, under the pressure of farmers and the government, the in-charges of the centers are forced to keep the paddy being purchased in the ground and fear disciplinary action like suspension and discharge for not following other government orders.

Giving the information that the farmers are also in peace due to panic and lack of official announcement regarding extension of date and in view of the possible loss that is going to be caused to the societies including government and administration due to impractical orders, in the larger interest at least the imminent 15th February Demanding to extend the purchase date till 2019, it has been requested to announce it without any delay.