DPC staff make novel claim for bribe: Farmers

As the harvest was almost complete in the Delta region, the farmers who have been approaching the DPCs have made a series of complaints, including bribery of DPC workers either to proceed with the process of paddy procurement or giving priority in the process. 

“Unlike private procurement dealers, government DPCs accept one ‘chippam’ (bag) of paddy (40 kg a bag). When we hand it over in the DPCs, they demand that we ensure 42 kg, claiming that the gunny sack weighs up to 2 kg. We are aware that the gunny sack never weighs over 400 grams. Thus, for each 40 kg, the farmer has to spare at least 2 kg paddy extra. Since the yield is satisfactory this time, a farmer, on average, harvests 30 ‘chippams’ and around 60 kg paddy has been given to the DPC workers,” said S Ramdoss, Nagapattinam district president of Tamil Nadu Farmers Association. Ramadoss claimed that the paddy was sold at Rs 16.60 per kg for fine variety and Rs 16 for motta variety and the DPC workers collect Rs 2 per kg claiming that it was their ‘wage’. 

“Thus, the farmers who spend up to Rs 30,000 per acre get only a small gain while selling the paddy to DPCs and the money transaction is being made by ECS only after a week,” Ramadoss said. This has prompted many a farmer to approach private dealers who even go to the spot and procure paddy for Rs 15 per kg. What’s more, the farmers need not spend for transport charges. “Private dealers offer spot payment and this makes the farmers comfortable,” claimed Ramadoss. Though over 75 per cent harvest has been completed in the Delta region, the DPCs could have procured only one lakh tonnes paddy against the government’s target of 20 lakh tonnes. “This doesn’t indicate that the farmers have opted for private dealers,” he said. The farmers also demanded the state government that the officials periodically monitor the functioning of DPCs.