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Bahanaga, Feb 14: Farmers in the block in Balasore district have not received their payments even though a month has passed since they sold paddy to cooperative societies
As per the new guidelines of the state government, farmers wishing to sell paddy are to register their names online. Later, they are provided tokens to sell paddy at procurement centres. Their payments should be credited to their bank accounts within seven days of the procurement.
However, these guidelines do not help. Cheques had been given to farmers as early as a month ago and they have been since deposited in farmers’ accounts. But they are yet to get the credit.
Given these problems, several farmers have sold paddy to traders at low price. Meanwhile, local middlemen on behalf of traders from West Bengal purchase paddy from farmers.
The produce, which is being procured by cooperative societies at Rs 1,360 per quintal, is sold for anything between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1100. Most of the farmers are poor and they require cash to repay their debt and meet daily expenses. They do not want to wait for months to get their cash.
Farmers, who have given their paddy to cooperative societies particularly at Sauda, Gopalpur, Chittal and Sahaspur, have not got their payments.
Mrutyunjay Jena, a local farmer of Chittal, said he among many other famers had sold paddy to the cooperative society January 13 and cheques were given away. “One month has passed, but the cheques have not been credited into accounts,” he rued.
The case of Dibakar Nayak of Kuruda village is no different. “20 days have passed, but my cheque has not been cleared. The marriage of my daughter is round the corner, but I have to wait for payment,” he quipped.
Contacted, Abhiram Mohanty, the branch manager (Bahanaga) of Balasore-Bhadrak Central Cooperative Bank, said farmers were given cheques, but the authorities stopped the payments and issued a directive for e-payments.
He also said that funds are transferred to farmers’ accounts in two or three days after secretaries of the societies send details of their bank accounts to banks.
Mohanty, however, added that steps would be taken to clear the payment of those farmers who have not received their dues.
