A fight over paddy has started after Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal came to Raipur and accused the state government of not sending 8 lakh tonnes of rice. Millers say that the Central Government is asking to store 67 kg of rice in one quintal of paddy, whereas only 54 kg of rice is available in the paddy grown in Chhattisgarh.
Where to collect the remaining rice? Six years ago, test milling was also done on the instructions of the High Court. In which the Central officials had come to Chhattisgarh and investigated and in their report had admitted that 52-54 kg of rice is available in one quintal of Arwa and only 60 kg of rice is available in Usna.
In the meeting held in Delhi a month ago, the voice of test milling was raised in front of Minister Goyal. Even during the Raipur visit, the Millers requested for a joint investigation. Millers also wrote a letter to Central Additional Secretary Richa Sharma, but no instructions have been received yet.
After Goyal’s visit, the state government has ordered all the millers to deposit rice by September 30. The incentive amount of those millers who do not give the remaining rice can also be stopped. In such a situation, the millers are not able to understand from where they should bring rice.
Incentive amount increased in Bhupesh government
Yogesh Aggarwal, former president of Millers Association, says that Bhupesh government increased the incentive amount from Rs 40 to Rs 120, but the money is not being received on time. The millers cannot meet their full needs with the amount of paddy they get. I have been fighting for the last 10 years to check how much rice is produced from one quintal of paddy. But no government is ready to listen. The Center has made the rules but the geographical situation of Punjab is not the same as that of Chhattisgarh. How to explain this.
Where should the millers get the rice from?
Orders were received from millers to store rice by 30th September. Those who do not give rice, their incentive amount may be withheld. In such a situation, the millers are not able to understand where to bring rice from.
Millers are saying – this much amount is yet to be received
Not a single installment of incentive amount for 2022-23 has been received. {The second installment of 2021-22 is pending. The amount of rice transportation, gunny bags and FR for 2020-21 has not been received yet.
The money for rice transportation for 2019-2020 was not received.
Hammali money for 2018-2019 was not paid.
The center should get test milling done once. Have raised this voice many times. Here there is not as much rice in the paddy as per the rules made by the Centre.
