TNCSC links up with Central agency to procure paddy

VELLORE: Paddy farmers were shocked when news leaked out that the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation had signed a MoU with a central government agency to procure paddy.

Vellore TNCSC officials when asked about this said it was true, but added that they were unable to name the entity which would do the job. At present, TNCSC procures paddy from farmers, coverts it to rice and then ensures that it is sent to the public distribution system.

Official sources said that “the central agency will use all official machinery of the civil supplies, including the premises, officials, loadmen to procure paddy which will then be sent to hullers for conversion to rice.”

“The move will ensure that current issues of stocked paddy being drenched in the rain will soon be a thing of the past. They will move the procured paddy immediately to hulling units and provide the PDS with rice for distribution through fair price shops.”

Farmers’ association sources said, “we fail to understand why another agency has to be involved to undertake the same task. If the aim is to prevent paddy at DPCs from being drenched then Civil supplies themselves could do the needful.”

Meanwhile, though Ranipet administration announced that 34 DPCs would be opened by September 5, “none has been functional even a day after the announced date,” said Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam youth wing state president R Subash.

Elaborating he said, “though the locations were fixed after inspections by civil supplies officials and the collector’s PA (agriculture) we are now told that the DPCs would start after another inspection. When an inspection is just to ensure that the chosen location has the necessary facilities to procure paddy from farmers, we feel that repeated inspections are just an excuse to delay their opening. With the Sornavari paddy season harvest over and with agricultural operations starting for the Samba paddy season farmers are doubtful if the DPCs will ever be opened and that the entire exercise is just an excuse to bide time.