Jharsuguda Former MLA Dipali Das Led Support as Hundreds of Farmers Staged Dharna at Collectorate Over Paddy Procurement Issues
Jharsuguda: Hundreds of farmers under the banner of the Jharsuguda Zilla Krushak Kriyaanusthan Committee on Tuesday staged a protest rally and dharna in front of the Jharsuguda District Collectorate, demanding immediate redressal of long-pending farmer related issues, including paddy procurement targets and renewal of tokens. A memorandum listing their demands was submitted to the Jharsuguda District Collector.
In this protest, former MLA of Jharsuguda and BJD Leader Dipali Das had also participated along with several farmer leaders and extended her support to them. The agitators took out a rally from Kishan Chowk to the collectorate, raising slogans against the state government and protesting alleged “Khatni–chhanti” (deductions) in paddy procurement.
Addressing to the media, Dipali Das said farmers were facing “continued injustice” due to delays and procedural hurdles. “If one seeks the pending target list from the Civil Supplies Office, it will show that more than two lakh quintals are still pending. Tokens are not being issued, paddy is not being lifted from mandis, and lapsed tokens are not being renewed,” she alleged. Questioning the administration’s rule that tokens lapse if paddy is not sighted, she said GPS tracking and other checks were being enforced even as lifting remained slow.
“The immediate demand is for targets to be allotted without delay and for renewal of lapsed tokens,” Das said, urging the district administration to act promptly.
Farmers participating in the dharna echoed the concerns, alleging that despite announcements of schemes, ground-level problems persist. “Every season it’s the same—targets are allotted late and get exhausted quickly. Due to Khatni–Chhanti, 4–6 kg is deducted, adding to our losses,” an agitating farmer said, warning that protests would intensify if issues remain unresolved.
