GLOBIVOX

Odisha Farmers Call Statewide Bandh Over Paddy Procurement and PUCC Fines

Farmers’ groups across Odisha have announced a statewide bandh to highlight long-standing grievances related to paddy procurement and the enforcement of Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) penalties. The call for a shutdown reflects growing frustration among cultivators who say procedural hurdles, rising costs, and regulatory pressures are squeezing farm incomes. While protest organisers insist the bandh will remain peaceful, the announcement has prompted the state administration to prepare contingency measures to ensure that essential services continue uninterrupted.

Why Farmers Are Protesting

The agitation stems from two central concerns: delays in government procurement of paddy and objections to fines imposed during PUCC checks on agricultural vehicles.

1. Problems at Paddy Procurement Centres

Many farmers allege that procurement operations at mandis and paddy purchase centres have been far from smooth this season. According to farmer unions, several bottlenecks are repeatedly reported:

• Slow registration and verification processes, which often prevent growers from selling their crop immediately after harvest.

• Limited daily purchase quotas, forcing farmers to return multiple times before their produce is accepted.

• Technical issues with online systems, including server downtime and mismatches in land records.

• Shortage of staff and weighing equipment, resulting in long queues and delayed transactions.

• Delayed payments, which affect farmers’ ability to repay loans, purchase seeds for the next crop cycle, or meet household expenses.

Small and marginal farmers are said to be the worst affected, as they depend heavily on prompt cash inflow after harvest. Many have also expressed concern that prolonged waiting periods increase the risk of spoilage or force them to sell at lower prices to private traders.

Concerns Over PUCC Enforcement

Alongside procurement issues, cultivators have raised objections to the way PUCC norms are being enforced for tractors, mini-trucks, and other vehicles used to transport crops.

Farmer bodies argue that:

• Frequent roadside checks disrupt movement of produce to mandis and warehouses.

• High penalties for expired certificates add to operational costs.

• Testing centres are not easily accessible in rural areas, making compliance difficult within short deadlines.

• Lack of awareness campaigns leaves many farmers unsure about renewal schedules and procedures.

Protest organisers maintain that they are not opposed to environmental regulations but want the government to adopt a practical approach that recognises the realities of rural transport and seasonal farming pressures. They have suggested mobile testing units, extended grace periods during harvest seasons, and reduced fines for first-time violations.

Political Reactions and Public Discourse

The bandh call has sparked political debate, with several parties expressing solidarity with the farmers while others have questioned the timing and scale of the protest.

Supporters say the agitation reflects genuine grassroots frustration and should be treated as an opportunity for constructive dialogue. Critics, however, have alleged political motivations behind the mobilisation and urged farmer leaders to pursue negotiations rather than large-scale shutdowns.

Meanwhile, the state administration has appealed for restraint from all sides. Officials have said that law-and-order arrangements are being strengthened to ensure that daily life is not severely disrupted. District collectors and police authorities have been instructed to keep major roads, hospitals, power supply systems, and public transport corridors functional.

Possible Impact of the Bandh

A statewide shutdown can affect multiple sectors, particularly in urban centres and market towns where transport, wholesale trade, and small businesses depend on daily footfall.

Potential areas of impact include:

• Road traffic and public transport, especially in district headquarters.

• Agricultural markets and wholesale mandis, where arrivals of produce could slow temporarily.

• Schools and colleges, depending on local administrative advisories.

Authorities have reiterated that emergency services such as ambulances, fire stations, and hospitals will remain operational, and arrangements are being made to protect essential supply chains.

Key Demands Raised by Farmer Groups

Farmer unions organising the bandh have outlined several demands they want the government to address:

• Streamlining procurement procedures and increasing daily lifting capacity at mandis.

• Ensuring timely and transparent payments directly to farmers’ bank accounts.

• Expanding the number of procurement centres in remote and tribal regions.

• Deploying mobile PUCC testing vans in rural blocks.

• Providing reasonable grace periods and lower penalties during peak harvest months.

• Holding regular consultations between agriculture officials and farmer representatives.

Protest leaders say these measures would reduce distress among cultivators and restore confidence in government systems.

Administration’s Stand

Government officials have indicated that efforts are already underway to improve procurement logistics, including upgrading digital platforms, adding manpower at busy centres, and coordinating faster lifting of grain to mills and warehouses. On the PUCC issue, transport authorities have maintained that emission checks are necessary for environmental protection but have also signalled openness to reviewing operational difficulties faced by rural vehicle owners.

The administration has urged farmers to submit their grievances through official channels and assured them that constructive engagement remains possible even while protests are underway.

A Test of Dialogue and Policy Response

The bandh has emerged as a critical moment for both farmer organisations and policymakers. For cultivators, it is a way to amplify long-standing concerns that they feel have not received adequate attention. For the government, it presents an opportunity to demonstrate responsiveness and build trust through swift, transparent action.

As Odisha watches the unfolding developments, many citizens hope that discussions between farmer leaders and authorities will lead to workable solutions—ones that protect farmers’ livelihoods while ensuring smooth procurement operations and responsible environmental compliance.

Whether the shutdown leads to immediate negotiations or prolonged agitation may depend on how quickly common ground can be found on the twin issues of crop purchases and regulatory enforcement.