Bhadrak, February 3: Say no to Katni Chhatni during paddy procurement from farmers, asks the Odisha government to the millers and PACs officials. Thus, the provision of Katni Chhatni(informal reduction of paddy) on record is almost illegal. However, the illegal practices to exploit poor farmers and paddy croppers yet continues, reveals a sting operation conducted by a district collector in Odisha.
While spying in disguise to keep vigil in a rural PAC situated in the rural pocket of Bhadrak, the district Collector on Sunday unearthed the illegal Katni Chhatni here.
In an unprecedented event, Bhadrak District Collector Dilip Routrai disguised himself as a farmer at the Katasahi mandi under Dhamnagar block to probe allegation of ‘katni-chhatni’.
During the sting operation, the DM & Collector walked and made several rounds of the mandi, inspecting and taking firsthand stock of repeated issues being faced by farmers. Meanwhie, he sold out a farmer’s paddy on the token, posing himself as a paddy cropper wherein the PAC officials asked him to reduce at least 8 kg paddy per quintal as Katni Chhatni, to compensate the paddy standard.
Finding the ‘katni-chhatni’ that continues behind the screen, the Collector then issued a show-cause notice to the concerned officials on the spot.
“The allegations made against your PACS was found to be true and therefore you are asked to show cause why action as deemed proper shall not be initiated against you,” said the show-cause notice issued to the Secretary of Katsahi PACS.
