LoP: Illegal levy on farmers & spectre of strikes haunt paddy procurement in CG

Raipur: Leader of Opposition Charandas Mahant raised has concerns over the ongoing paddy procurement process in Chhattisgarh, alleging an "illegal" labour charge being collected from farmers, which should be paid for by the govt. He warned that unresolved strikes by co-operative society staff and data entry operators might derail procurement operations across the state. In a letter to the chief minister, Mahant demanded the immediate halt of the Rs 7.50 per quintal charge reportedly taken from farmers at minimum support price (MSP) procurement centres in the name of bag filling and labour expenses. He stated that farmers are being asked to either bring filled gunny bags or pay Rs 3 per bag (40 kg) to labourers, failing which their paddy is not being procured.He noted that the Union govt already provides Rs 22.05 per quintal to the state's procurement agencies to cover all operational costs, including bag filling, weighing, stitching, marking, loading, and stacking. Citing a central circular dated Oct 9, 2025, he alleged that the "illegal recovery" in the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons amounted to Rs 220.68 crore and demanded immediate intervention to stop the practice. He warned that Congress would launch a statewide agitation if the govt failed to act.In another letter, Mahant pointed out that with the 2025–26 procurement season scheduled to begin on Nov 15, offices of 2,058 primary agricultural credit co-operative societies and 2,739 procurement centres remain locked due to an indefinite strike by thousands of co-operative and procurement staff.He said the govt has made no progress in ending the strike, making the smooth start of procurement "nearly impossible." The striking employees have raised four longstanding demands, including timely disposal of procured paddy and payment of due commission to co-operatives so they can pay staff salaries. Mahant said shortages at procurement centres — the result of delayed lifting of paddy — are being wrongly treated as negligence, leading to unfair recoveries and FIRs against employees. Natural drying due to prolonged storage inevitably reduces weight, he added.The LoP also highlighted the grievances of data entry operators, who, he said, are essential to the computerised procurement process. Until last year, they received a 12-month salary, but for 2025–26 the govt decided to pay them only for six months through the Marketing Federation and appoint them via outsourcing.Describing the decision as "highly unjust," Mahant said the data entry operators have been working for 18 years and should receive better, not reduced, benefits. Their demands for full-year salaries and regularisation are legitimate, he added.