Bio-metric method in paddy procurement in Chhattisgarh a difficult task, says CM Bhupesh Baghel

RaipurBuying paddy through bio-metric method in Chhattisgarh is quite a difficult task, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said while targeting the central government for insisting on bio-metric method.Chhattisgarh is set to start paddy procurement from November 1. The central government has made biometric authentication mandatory for paddy procurement. The center has also stated that if biometric authentication is not in place in any state, then rice will not be purchased from there.The chief minister of Chhattisgarh has accused the BJP of creating enmity with farmers. He stated that the geographical situation here is not suitable for biometric authentication because in remote areas, in the midst of forests, if the server goes down during biometric procurement, it will cause problems for farmers. He has also written a letter to the Indian government stating that this system should not be implemented.He said that the Indian government has made biometric authentication mandatory and has stated that the procurement system in Uttar Pradesh, which they claim to be the best, is the reason. The CM mentioned that during the Uttar Pradesh elections, he witnessed the paddy procurement system there and saw that farmers were selling rice for 1200 rupees. However, it is not clear who is buying and who is selling, whereas Chhattisgarh’s paddy procurement system is the best.The chief minister stated that farmers in the state have been linked to their Aadhaar cards for paddy procurement. Last year, 107 lakh metric tonnes of paddy were procured, and there were no issues with storage, transportation, or lifting of paddy. Despite this, it is not clear why there is enmity between the Chhattisgarh government and the central government. Why has the quota for rice been reduced from 86 lakh metric tonnes to 61 lakh and biometric authentication introduced? The Chief Minister has stated that this is discrimination against farmers, and he would directly say that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is creating enmity with farmers.“As our government came into power, the target for paddy procurement increased year by year, from 80 lakh to 83 lakh, then 92 lakh, 97 lakh, and last year it was 107 lakh metric tonnes. This year, our goal is to procure 125 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. So, the people of Chhattisgarh are watching who stands with whom,” the chief minister said.When the central government issued the order capping the support price, the state government had to bring in the Rajiv Gandhi Nyay Yojana, and now the order has come that they will purchase 61 lakh metric tonnes of rice instead of 86 lakh and biometric authentication should be in place. So, this is discrimination against farmers, and I would say that the Bharatiya Janata Party is creating enmity with farmers.Regarding the Parivartan Yatra of the BJP, Baghel said about Chhattisgarh’s Mahatari’s picture, “We are moving ahead and will continue to move forward,” he said.Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that the BJP is imitating the Congress party. They were in power for 15 years, but they never remembered Chhattisgarh’s Mahatari.