Chandigarh, Nov. 12 -- Nearly a month after experts from the Centre took samples of damaged and discoloured paddy harvested in the current kharif marketing season, the Union ministry of food and public distribution on Tuesday allowed relaxation in procurement norms by allowing purchase of produce with up to 10% discoloured and damaged grain, from 5%.

The move by the Centre, which has come after repeated reminders by the state government, has no meaning particularly for peasantry when they have already incurred loss of Rs.50 to Rs.500 per quintal, according to paddy growers, arhtiyas and state food officials. The total runs into thousands of crores, they say.

The relaxation has arrived when the majority of the crop - 150 lakh tonnes - ha...