File FIR against millers if they try to exploit you: Min to farmers

Samanta warns millers and mandi staff of stern action if found indulging in katni, chhatni

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Bhubaneswar

TAKING strong exception to the persisting practice of katni, chhatni (deduction of a certain quantity of grains) at the mandis despite efforts of the state government to streamline the paddy procurement process, Cooperation minister Pradeep Bal Samanta on Sunday called upon the farmers to file FIRs against the rice millers and mandi staff, if they are subjected to such demands.

The move comes in the wake of reports from coastal districts that farmers are having to wait for a long time to dispose of their paddy at MSP in the procurement centres due to non-lifting of their produce by rice millers, who are demanding a cut of 4-5 kg per quintal.