Odisha farmer 'dies after harassment at paddy procurement centre’

A farmer from Junagadi village under Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district allegedly died on Thursday after facing severe harassment during paddy procurement, his family claimed. The deceased farmer, identified as Trilochan Nayak, suffered a heart attack after returning from a rice mill where he had been struggling for days to get his produce accepted.

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According to the family members, Trilochan had received a message on January 16 asking him to bring his paddy for procurement. However, even after running to the cooperative society for nearly 40 days, he was instructed by the society secretary to take his crop to a mill instead of the mandi.

At the Ramchandi Rice Mill, Trilochan had waited for three days, guarding his paddy without proper food or rest. His family has alleged that the mill accepted the produce only after deducting 6 kg per quintal and demanding Rs 3,000 in payments. In total, around 9 quintals of paddy were cut, leading to losses of nearly Rs 18,000.

The family has accused the procurement system of causing mental and physical stress that ultimately led to his untimely death.

“My brother had a token dated January 16. We went to the society repeatedly, but they (the mandi staff) refused to accept the paddy. Finally, on the 25th, they told us to bring it. We asked if we could drop it off at the society, but they refused and told us to cover the transportation costs ourselves,” deceased farmer’s brother, Duryodhan Nayak, alleged.

“We paid Rs 5,000 a day for the vehicle and stayed there for three days. After that, we had to pay another Rs 3,000. My brother was constantly worried. We spent three days and nights there, bitten by mosquitoes, with no food, no water, and no hotels nearby. We just stayed there guarding the paddy,” Duryodhan Nayak stated.

“While we were guarding the produce, they finally weighed it yesterday after we paid the Rs 3,000. They deducted 3 quintals of paddy. Here, the society deducts 6 kg per quintal. My brother was under a lot of stress; due to harassment, he kept complaining of chest pain, and then he passed away,” the deceased farmer’s brother added.

“We don't have any such information with us. He has already sold his paddy. He sold it here at the society. His Id scan was done on February 14. There must be proof of where he sold his paddy. Neither the farmer nor his family have ever complained,” Dangamala cooperative society secretary, Gobinda Jena, said to OTV when contacted.