Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, has emphasized the need for a more transparent and simplified paddy procurement process in Odisha. To ensure transparency and curb corruption, a third-party audit of the procurement process will be conducted.
The announcement came during a high-level meeting on procurement preparations held at the Lok Seva Bhavan conference hall on Monday. The meeting, chaired by Singh Deo, was attended by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, Cooperation Minister Pradeep Bal Samant, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and other key officials.
According to an official press release, farmers will be able to report issues or seek information through a toll-free helpline, 1967. To enhance responsiveness, the Civil Supplies Corporation has set up a call center with 30 additional seats.
A tender notification has been released for the transportation of paddy from mandis to mills. Farmers will receive updates through Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns, with procurement guidelines displayed at every mandi and fair-price shop. Additionally, helpful instructions will be sent to farmers via SMS within the next few days.
To eliminate middlemen, the inspection system will be reinforced, with strict measures planned against violations. District-level procurement committees will oversee operations at both the village and district levels. The meeting also discussed the needs and concerns of millers engaged in the process.