Over 1,000 farmers under four cooperative societies of Kolabira block in Jharsuguda district have not got tokens for last two months to sell their paddy, triggering resentment among them.
Now, tokens are given online from Bhubaneswar. But due to non-supply of tokens from Bhubaneswar, farmers are not able to sell their paddy. The farmers are showing displeasure against the cooperative secretaries who are helpless in the matter.
Sources revealed that four cooperative societies were functioning at Kolabira, Samasingha, Jhillipali and Paramanpur in Kolabira block. A total 64,768 quintsl paddy was purchased till January 15 from 1,274 farmers through the societies. In Kolabira samiti 14,912 quintal paddy has been purchased from 296 farmers against target of 17,900 quintal given to the society. Now, 326 farmers are in waiting list for token. Likewise against a target of 13,500 quintal to Paramanpur samiti, 11,151 quintal paddy has been purchased from 256 farmers till January 15. Still more than 200 farmers are waiting to get tokens. In Samasingha samiti, 21,710 quintal paddy has been purchased from 396 farmers against a target of 23,100 quintal for the samiti. Till now, more than 200 farmers are in the waiting list to receive tokens.
Ironically, though 90 per cent target is said to have been fulfilled in the cooperative societies, yet many farmers are not having of tokens to sell their paddy.
Against a target of 72,400 quintal paddy, 64,768 quintal paddy has already been purchased. The farmers are passing through many financial crisis. They are also preparing for staging protests in front of cooperative societies in near future , said executive member of State BJP farmers forum Arun Behera.
Besides, Kolabira Samiti secretary Debraj Kumura said that secretaries had no role in the supply of tokens to the farmers. The departmental authorities should remove the token issue, he demanded.