Women to run 50 percent of paddy procurement centres in Telangana soon

By Raghu Pai Thari

If everything go as per plan, women groups will be operating at least 50 per cent of the paddy procurement centres in the State this Yasangi season.

Besides other government agencies, women groups are already purchasing paddy from farmers on behalf of the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty’s Indira Kranthi Patham across the State. Now, as part of the State government’s plans to enhance the number of centres for women groups, about 50 percent of the paddy procurement centres are likely to be allocated to women. In this regard, the State government has issued instructions to district level officials. SERP officials are making arrangements based on instructions from higher officials.

While a commission of Rs.31.20 is being given on the purchase of a quintal of normal variety paddy, Rs.32 is given for fine variety paddy. The income is helping the women to run their families and for other purposes, officials said.

In order to provide a minimum support price to farmers, the system of procuring paddy directly from farmers was launched in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh in 2006-07 by involving IKP and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies. Initially, a centre was established for every five to 10 villages. IKP engages women groups to run PPCs and the commission is being paid by the Civil Supplies Corporation.

After the formation of separate Telangana, the cultivation of paddy has gone up in a big way, with the number of procurement centres also being increased. Though IKP, PACS, DCMS and MEPMA are also engaged in procurement, the highest number of PPCs are being allocated to PACS societies. The State government now wants to change this and allocate 50 percent of the centres to women groups from this Yasangi season.

Opposing the State government’s decision, chairmen and members of a few PACS from Rajanna-Sircilla district recently gave a representation to government whip and Vemulawada MLA Adi Srinivas requesting him to take steps to ensure the procurement through PACS.

This article has been republished from The Telangana Today.