Farmers body protests new paddy procurement policy
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Sambalpur: Protests against the revised kharif paddy procurement registration policy in the state continue to escalate, with the Paschim Odisha Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti (POKSSS), a prominent farmers' coordination body, voicing strong opposition on Saturday.
At a press conference held at Samata Bhavan in Bargarh district, the outfit called for an immediate rollback of the "complex and centralised" registration process, warning of severe consequences across western part of the state if their demands are ignored.
Addressing the media, POKSSS convenors Lingaraj and Ashok Pradhan alleged that the new norms — requiring biometric and iris scans, OTP verification, and submission of legal heir documents for all persons named in land records — are impractical for farmers, especially during peak agricultural activity.
They demanded immediate withdrawal of the new norms and reinstatement of a simple, farmer-friendly system that does not penalise anyone for documentation issues.
Bargarh district collector Aditya Goyal said, "It is a misunderstanding that the registration process has been made difficult. That's not true. We are trying to bring transparency to the registration process and ensure that genuine farmers receive the benefits."
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