Paddy Procurement: Online Token System to Continue In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: In a significant development, the Odisha Government today made it clear that the new online token system for paddy procurement will continue across the State.

Speaking to media, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain said, “We have introduced the online token system to maintain transparency and to ensure that the farmers get the actual price of the paddy procured by the government.”

Swain also invited suggestion from the farmers to make the system more robust saying “If the farmers feel that there is a glitch in the online token system and it needs further improvement, the government will positively accept their suggestions.”

Clearing the air, he further reiterated that there is no proposal to withdraw it.

“This system is there and will continue,” he added.

Notably, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) had raised the issue in the Assembly on November 17 and alleged that the farmers of western Odisha are yet to receive their tokens till date and the farmers are waiting at the mandis (procurement centres) with the paddy. But the district administrations are yet to procure their paddy.