Paddy procurement has hampered in Bargarh district and it is related to newly launched Aahar scheme in the district. Recently launched Aahar scheme at Bargarh town has created havoc for farmers of the district. The Aahar scheme at Bargarh town provides 500 meals per day. Cooked food is supplied from Sambalpur Aahar Centre to Bargarh centre by a Van. According to the provision, the customer pays Rs 5/- per meal but according to the government estimate each meal cost Rs 20/- and the remaining 15 is beard by the government. This scheme is run by PPP mode. Meena Trust of Hyderabad is providing 500 meals daily for 2 months since its launching, donating 4 lakhs 50 thousands. But the centre was in uncertain after 2 months as there were no funds to run further. The intelligentsia of the district pressurized the rice millers to donate fund for the centre in April. Finally the Millers Association of the district donated a sum of Rs 4 lakhs and buys the decision of the government and administration in favour of them.
The nexus between the millers and the government has been exposed. According to the information, rice procurement should have started on 1st May for the Rabi crop but today is 7th now and it has yet not started. Around 70 thousands paddy sacks lying on open sky in different market-yard of the district. Hail storm, rain and bad weather affecting it from time to time. The farmers are worried to sell their paddy as soon as possible but the administration is delaying the process. Sources say the delay is favouring the millers.
The district administration is saying they have yet not received the guidelines of rice procurement reference with last year and the process is getting delayed. Paddy is procured and target is given to millers by keeping their past year delivery report. Now the millers and the local administration are in nexus and planning not to open the market yard before 10th so that farmers will compelled to sell to middleman in under-rate.