After giving more than desirable time for bringing derailed paddy purchasing process by the department back on track, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department Minister Saryu Roy has decided to take things in his own hands before situation goes out of control. In a letter directed to department Secretary, Roy has asked him to add some ‘emotional touch’ in completely safe paddy procurement process, which has been developed to keep middlemen and forgeries away, and not the needy farmers.
In a stern letter to department Secretary, Roy has asked to amend flaws in paddy purchasing process as soon as possible. He has also directed the Secretary to direct officials down the line in district headquarters to make arrangements for his camps in Palamu, Kolhan, Santhal Pargana, Ranchi and Chhotanagpur throughout March in which he would meet farmers facing difficulties in selling paddy to the government. Meanwhile, he has directed department to ensure operation of ration card management system in February itself, and distribution of White Ration Card and formation of Food Commission by March this year.
“From very beginning of January, we had started getting hints of lagging far behind in process of procuring paddy from farmers. Technical glitches in the processes adopted for procurement has emerged as the biggest problem. Those getting SMSs by department are not coming to procurement centres, and those coming are being sent back with paddy, as SMSs have not been sent to them yet. This needs to be rectified by sending SMSs to those on the spot who come with paddy without getting prior SMSs,” directed the Minister to Secretary.
Roy said in his letter that he would organise meetings with vigilance committees and district consumer protection committees, apart from farmers and beneficiaries at two pre-decided places in every district during March 1-30. He also took cognizance of purchasing agencies including central government agencies over making unnecessary delay in payments to farmers.
“I have come across such incidents in Hazaribagh, where even The National Federation of Farmers' Procurement, Processing and Retailing Cooperatives of India (NACOF) has been found making unnecessary delay in payments to farmers. It needs to be streamlined,” said Roy.