New Indian Express reports, no fewer than 74 primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) of Kalahandi district in Odisha are not able to procure paddy from farmers for the kharif season due to lack of financial resources.
The PACS are entitled to market fee of Rs 30.53 out of the minimum support price for each quintal of paddy. The amount is paid by Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited. However, the societies have not been paid the fee since 2018-19. This has affected hiring of temporary manpower at paddy purchase centres.
The societies have also not received funds for engaging labourers at mandis since 2017-18. The PACS are paying the wages of labourers from their own resources or from credit availed from cooperative banks.
However, deputy registrar of cooperative societies Pramod Kumar Sahu said the market fee of the societies is settled by OSCSC. As the societies have not submitted their claims with the muster role of labourers as required by the corporation, they were not reimbursed for their expenses. “
