Kolkata, July 27 -- The state Food and Supplies Department is stepping up efforts to eliminate the role of middlemen in paddy procurement and ensure farmers receive the full payment for their produce. Food and Supplies minister Ashok Kirtania on Monday chaired a meeting with about 500 rice millers from across the state, urging them to supply graded, high-quality rice through the public distribution system.
"There have been several allegations of corruption in the rationing system during the previous TMC government. Our government's position is unequivocal. If any rice miller, distributor or even a departmental official is found involved in malpractice, the strictest action will be taken. There can be no compromise on the quality of food grains supplied to beneficiaries," Kirtania said. He added that some millers alleged during the meeting that only 30 per cent of the farmers benefited and 70 per cent of the profit went to the middlemen.
"The central paddy procurement rate has been fixed at Rs 2443 per quintal, but our state government is offering Rs 2641. We want more and more farmers to sell their paddy to the state government so that they get due price," he added.
The peak procurement will commence on November 1 and continue till April.
The minister instructed the millers to return the existing rice stock of the central and state pool to the department soon.
"The surveillance at ration shops has been intensified, and dealers have been instructed not to accept inferior-quality rice or wheat. If they receive substandard food grains, they should return them to the distributor. They have also been asked to inform me directly by phone or message, following which appropriate action will be taken," the minister said.
About 5 per cent of the rice will be taken away for ethanol factories.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.