An investigation team has exposed the corruption in the government moong procurement centres in the Harda district of Madhya Pradesh. The team on Sunday found that the District Procurement Committee has been procuring substandard moong (green gram) at the Sultanpur Warehousing. Hence, a penalty of Rs. 25,000 has been imposed on the managers of six centres.
Background
The Harda district has 49 procurement centres for the collection of moong dal. The collection work is carried out through service cooperative societies, Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and self-help groups. Additionally, each procurement centre also has surveyors from NCML (National Collateral Management Services Limited) company appointed by NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India). Primarily, the surveyors undertake the survey, inspection, sampling and analysis of the procured items.
Issue
Recently, seven moong procurement centres were set up at the Sultanpur branch of MP Warehousing and Logistics Corporation. According to local reports, it was the branch manager who first raised a complaint that substandard moong was procured at some of the centres. Following the complaint by the branch manager, the district collector, Rishi Garg instructed the formation of an investigation team, constituting officials from agriculture, warehousing corporation, marketing association, surveyor supervisors and NAFED’s regional officer. Now, the investigation team was directed to submit its report within two days.
Findings
The investigating team found that some stacks of moong in 6 out of the 7 centres did not meet the standard quality. The managers of all six procurement centres have been fined Rs. 25,000 each in the case. They have been given seven days to upgrade the quality of the moong procured from the farmers. This will be followed by a re-examination of samples.
NCML company’s state head has also been notified to take disciplinary action against the surveyors.
Kisan Congress’ response
In response to the whole episode, the Kisan and Khet Mazdoor Congress has alleged that the managers of the guilty procurement centres have the protection of the state’s Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel. Further, they have argued that substandard moong from traders is being falsely attributed to the farmers to defaming them.
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