Muddled paddy procurement
By P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 18 — Paddy procurement operation is dreadfully muddled in Punjab, thanks to the lackadaisical handling by the state's agencies.

This has resulted in the distress sale and purchase of paddy much to the chagrin of the farmers, who are doubly unblessed with the weather too having played its role.

A major part of the blame for the suffering of paddy growers must be shared by the state agencies namely, Markfed, Punsup, Agro-industries, Warehouse and the Food and Supplies Department. Together these agencies are to procure 60 per cent of the total arrivals. Reports from different districts reaching here indicate that the agencies did not participate in the daily auctions, since the procurement started on September 15.

Wherever the representatives of the agencies were present, they simply would take a round of the mandi and opt for selective bidding. This was done more by design than accident, resulting in the distress sale of paddy, the denials by the minister in charge notwithstanding.

Perturbed by media reports, the Chief Minister is believed to have sought a factual position. Since complaints came from Ferozepore in larger numbers, a probe was held there and a confidential report submitted to him. On the basis of that, a meeting was called by him on October 16. That report, TNS learns, is a strong indictment of the state agencies and exposes the nexus between the officials and the private trade, particularly, the millers, who virtually ruled the mandis in the first one month of the procurement season. This inquiry was conducted by the Punjab Mandi Board Secretary, Mr P.S. Aujla.

Being a farmer-oriented government, a lot of political embarrassment has been caused to it. The October 16 meeting was attended by two ministers concerned, besides senior bureaucrats. The Chief Minister was upset over the sluggish procurement. The Ferozepore report, it is learnt, has revealed that several mandis virtually remained unrepresented by agencies at the time of auction.

The bulk of paddy purchased in the surveyed mandis, 24, showed that it was done below the minimum support price with private trade outstripping the agencies. Moreover, at least on 50 per cent of the working days agencies failed to participate in the bidding.

The officials assigned for bidding gave no reasons for rejecting certain heaps while neglecting to bid for individual heaps as it should normally have been done. That was enough hint to private trade to purchase at its own terms and conditions; and of course at a price which was shared with the representatives of the agencies.

The mess up has caused consternation to the growers. Punjab may have sounded a red alert on rain damage to paddy, but one finds red faces in the government. The situation needs careful handling. On October 15 the following was the procurement picture: total paddy arrivals — 59,00,994 tonnes; total purchase — 54,99,539 tonnes; unsold paddy — 4,01,455 tonnes; unlifted paddy — 5,35,047 tonnes. At least 50 per cent paddy is yet to arrive in mandis.

Insiders say a minister of the Food and Supplies, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, did some plain-speaking at the October 16 meeting, while Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, his senior, was on the defensive. The bureaucrats heading the agencies looked uncomfortable. Since what has happened on paddy procurement has ethical connotations for the SAD-BJP government, steps are on the anvil to apply correctives.

While the Chief Minister is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister on October 20 on paddy procurement problems, it is time that attention is paid to proper housekeeping as well. Seeking lowering of certain specifications in respect of paddy and rise is only one aspect; showing honest transparency in procurement is quite another. Will agencies act now?