In Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, around 16,000 quintals worth around ₹3.68 crore of paddy have reportedly gone missing. The paddy was procured for the Kharif season from 30,186 farmers, for which 20 lakh metric tons were procured. The matter came to light during the paddy weighing process at storage godowns, where the quantity of paddy dramatically falls short.
Yet Shahdol is not the only district in this situation. Action was also taken in Umaria, where 2,542 quintals were found out of stock, and there were 2,710 quintals missing in Anuppur. Losses of around ₹4.88 crore have been suffered by the three districts of the Shahdol division together.
Investigations reveal that the problem stems from the National Cooperative Consumer Federation (NCCF), the state government agency responsible for piloting the paddy procurement project so far this season. It has also been reported that NCCF was unable to transport the paddy to warehouses within the stipulated 72-hour window as given by government guidelines. Therefore, the paddy was left open for an excessive period, becoming exposed to moisture and weight was lost.
Later, the Shahdol District Cooperative Central Bank has also written to the Deputy Commissioner of Cooperatives, suggesting that they make the managers of the concerned LAMPS (Large-sized Adivasi Multi-Purpose Societies) bear the losses. However, the administration is going to start proceedings with these managers.
But curiously, that situation raises some critical questions: Is the fault all of the LAMPS committees? Should NCCF also be brought to action for their delay? It’s very possible that this issue will get buried in paperwork, and not enforced with any real accountability for the no doubt expensive negligence.
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