TV
A large group of farmers in Sambalpur district staged a road blockade near the Sindurpank bypass on Monday morning, protesting irregularities in the sale of paddy at local mandis. The agitation, which began early in the day, brought the traffic to a standstill, with several vehicles stranded on both sides of the road.
Sources reported that the protest was led by farmer organisations from Tabla, Kukudapali, and Parmanpur, who expressed their growing frustration over delayed procurement, irregular deductions in weight (katni-chatani), and alleged corruption in the procurement process.
Concerns over the absence of a clearly defined paddy procurement target for the district were also raised, with farmers stating that it has caused widespread confusion and dissatisfaction among cultivators.
Farmers Say ‘No Target, No Transparency’
According to protesting farmers, the lack of a procurement target has made it difficult for them to plan their sales.
“Every year, we depend on the mandi system to sell our paddy and repay our loans. But this year, officials have failed to announce any concrete purchase target, leading to panic. They also threatened that they would either deduct five kgs from my shipment or send it back,” alleged one protester at the site.
They also alleged that several mandis are either closed or functioning erratically, and when open, farmers are being subjected to unfair deductions in the name of ‘katni-chatani’ (price cuts), significantly reducing their earnings.
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Traffic Disrupted, Tension Grows
Reports added that the blockade brought traffic to a halt on both sides of the busy bypass route. Trucks and private vehicles remained stranded for hours as protestors refused to vacate the road without written assurances from the administration.
Farmer unions leading the protest warned that if their demands are not met, they will intensify their agitation across the district.
“This is just the beginning,” said a leader of the Paramanpur farmers’ group. “We want fair prices, transparent procurement, and immediate correction of irregularities,” he added.
