CHENNAI: Aiming at setting right the shortcomings in the present system and to ensure total transparency in procurement process at the Direct Procurement Centres, the Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced a slew of measures including e-procurement, setting up an integrated modern rice mill, godowns and silos at the heart of the Cauvery Delta among other places.
“There are reports that farmers have to wait for long hours and that incorrect weight of paddy procured is allegedly recorded. Delayed payment for procured paddy and partial payment also prevail,” noted Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa while making the announcement under Rule 110 in the State Assembly, detailing what she termed as systemic deficits affecting farmers at the procurement centres.
Noting that the Electronic Clearing Service (ECS) has not been fully implemented as the procurement process was not computerised, Jaya said the e-procurement system would put an end to these complaints. “The paddy procurement process will be fully computerised and the DPCs would be given point of sale machine, computer, printer and electronic weighing scale to improve the efficiency in service,” she added.
Jaya added that farmers could register information like their names, land details, extent of area of crop cultivation, probable harvest period, through internet or via public service centres. An SMS would be sent to them on details of procurement with date and time. Hence, they need not wait at DPCs for long hours to sell their paddy and they could choose their convenient time for bringing the paddy. Immediately after procurement, receipt would be given to the farmers and procurement price would be credited to their bank accounts directly through ECS. Further, the weight of paddy, procurement price, transportation of paddy and the godown where the paddy is kept etc, would be made available online. This would be implemented at a cost of Rs 13.43 crore.
In an attempt to ensure total transparency in procurement process at the Direct Procurement Centres, the Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced a slew of measures.
One of the important announcements, which Chief Minister Jayalalithaa termed as a flagship initiative, was the proposal to set up an integrated modern rice mill with a capacity to handle 30,000 metric tonnes of paddy at Valangaiman in Tiruvarur at a cost of Rs 20 crore.
This would avoid delay in bringing rice meant for PDS from rice mills and the increasing transportation charges, Jayalalithaa said.
She announced setting up of two godowns of 10,000 metric tonne capacity each at Kottur and Needamangalam in the district at a total cost of Rs 40 crore. She said silos would be set up in Thanjavur and Thiruvarur district, each with a capacity to handle 15,000 metric tonnes, at a total cost of Rs 40 crore.
The Chief Minister also announced setting up of five godowns, at a total cost of Rs 18.50 crore. The godowns would come up in Ambasamudram, Arakkonam, Namakkal, Manamadurai and Cuddalore districts this year.
Among other announcements were construction of new buildings for 50 DPCs at a cost of Rs 20 crore, own buildings for 90 primary agriculture cooperative societies, new buildings for two primary cooperative and rural development banks at a cost of Rs 40 lakh, buildings for nine branches of Central cooperative banks amd two branches of urban cooperative banks at a cost of Rs 9.40 crore and modernisation of 79 cooperative associations at a cost of Rs 12.45 crore.