Rice millers shut operations

There appears to be an imminent rice crisis in the state, as discussions between the All Odisha Rice Millers’ Association and the state government ended inconclusively.

- POST NEWS NETWORK

Consequently, the millers have decided to continue their strike. The association announced that rice mill operations across the state will remain shut as they have not received any written assurance from the government regarding their demands.After the meeting with the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare (FS&CW) department failed to yield any results, the association remained firm on its stance. Their primary demands are: Payment of maintenance charges for 2023-24 and 2024-25 Kharif seasons, additional incentives for custom milling, revision of transportation costs for distances exceeding 40 km, and reintroduction of 1 per cent ‘dryage’ allowance for raw rice.

Furthermore, the millers warned that paddy procurement will remain suspended in all districts until a formal government notification is issued. They had previously commenced work based on verbal assurances in Novem-