Bhubaneswar/Sambalpur: After getting assurances from Odisha Minister Sushant Singh that paddy will be procured from farmers without tokens, farmers in western Odisha withdrew their protests recently. However, farmers today alleged that mandi officials are not procuring paddy without tokens.
"The Minister (Sushant Singh) had said that tokens will be generated within two hours, but even after 24 hours, we are yet to get any tokens. We are stranded here (at the mandi) with our paddy loaded on tractors," said Suresh Nikanti, a farmer from Bargarh.
Another farmer from Sambalpur, M Govindu alleged, "The mandi officials are not accepting paddy without tokens. We were given false assurances by the minister."
On the other hand, the Supplies department said that it would be difficult to disburse payment to farmers if paddy is procured without tokens.
"We are generating tokens and procuring paddy from the farmers who are coming to the mandis. Famers can't get the payments if we procure paddy without tokens," said Sambalpur civil supplies officer, Ranjan Kumar Seth.
Earlier in the day, Food and Supplies Minister, Ranendra Swain informed the Odisha Assembly that token generation is being done online and details of farmers who have already harvested their paddy are being collected from societies to assign tokens.
He further said that farmers who are unable to sell paddy on a stipulated date will get another date for the procurement.