Government norms unrealistic, allege millers

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Rice millers across Telangana are facing severe distress, alleging that unrealistic government norms, poor quality paddy supply and lack of storage space are forcing them into default, resulting in heavy penalties. Millers claim that despite their best efforts, they are unable to supply rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Civil Supplies Department within the stipulated time. They accuse the government of playing with their future by strictly enforcing rules while failing to fulfill its own responsibilities.

The millers are particularly upset over the imposition of a 25% penalty along with 12% interest on undelivered quantities, which they say is pushing many of them towards illegal practices just to survive. If millers fail to supply the allotted quantity within the deadline, they are slapped with a 25% penalty. Additionally, 12% interest is charged on the value. Millers say this is extremely harsh, especially when the root causes lie with the quality of paddy supplied by the government and lack of storage space.

Three major issues highlighted by millers include poor quality of paddy, unrealistic yield norms and lack of godown space. The government is supposed to supply paddy with a maximum of 3% discolored or damaged grains. However, due to political pressure, this has gone up to 15% or even more. Millers say processing such low-quality paddy makes it impossible to achieve the required rice output. 

Millers argue that it is impossible to get 67% rice yield with 10% broken grains from inferior quality paddy. They have been demanding test milling, but the government is not conducting it. Even when rice is ready for delivery to FCI or Civil Supplies, godowns are often full, causing delays for which millers are held responsible.

According to rice millers’ associations, nearly 400 rice mills in the state have already become defaulters due to these issues. Despite repeated representations to the government, they allege that their problems are not being addressed seriously. Millers warn that if the government continues to ignore these core issues while strictly enforcing penalties, many mills may be forced to shut down or stop milling operations entirely in the near future.

 They have appealed to the government to immediately resolve the issues by ensuring supply of quality paddy, conducting test milling to fix realistic yield percentages, and maintaining adequate storage space in godowns.