Jajpur: Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) work for the overall benefit of agriculture as well as farmers. However, most such societies in Jajpur district are steeped in corruption. Barchana and Dhaneswar PACSes may be taken as examples of gross irregularities.
Till date, over 15 farmers under Dhaneswar PACS in Korei block are yet to receive the money for the paddy they sold. The affected farmers had taken up the issue with the Minister for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare and Cooperation and other concerned officials, July 16, 2021. In response, an investigation was ordered, but it remained confined to the files only. As a result, the Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Credit) had directed October 22, 2021 the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Cuttack-2 division, to submit the investigation report within seven days.
Despite this, the investigation into the allegations related to misappropriation of lakhs of rupees due to the 15 farmers remains confined to files only.
If allegations of farmers like Balaram Rout, Surendra Kar, Jagabandhu Kar, Rabinarayan Das, Subham Rout, Purna Chandra Satpathy, Rashmita Naik under Dhaneswar PACS are true, PACS secretary Akhila Kumar Jena is responsible for the irregularities in paddy procurement.
They alleged that Jena is presently trying for his transfer, but he should not be transferred until the farmers of Dhaneswar PACS get their dues. Jena has been on leave for a long period on the pretext of medical condition. It has been alleged that he is making the rounds of the office of Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies (ARCS) every day for his transfer. The farmers alleged that the ARCS and CEO are shielding him.
At the same time, the farmers alleged that the secretary in-charge of the Barchana PACS, Bikash Kumar Swain, has also resorted to forgery. He reportedly presented fake people as original land owners during paddy procurement. On the other hand, farmers who sold paddy after receiving tokens from their respective PACS were shown as grandsons and nephews of those fake land owners.
Acting on the allegation, the Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Credit), vide letter No. 8299/20/05/2021, had directed the ARCS, Jajpur, to investigate into the allegations and submit report within seven days.
As no probe report was submitted within the stipulated period, the Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Credit) had written another letter (No-10079/13/07/2021), asking why the report had not been submitted.
A farmer, Chintamani Jena, and 10 others had complained about the above-mentioned corruption April 30, 2021.
Acting on the complaint, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies had directed DRCS Kulamani Padhi to probe into the allegations and present the report within seven days. The farmers alleged that the investigation was progressing such a way as to favour the secretary.
When asked to comment on the issue, ARCS, Jajpur, Prashant Kumar Mallick said the farmers under Dhaneswar PACS are being given their dues in phases. The corruption allegations against the Barchana PACS are being investigated by the DRCS, he added.