During the ongoing session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on Friday, discussions turned toward accusations involving a purported paddy procurement scam. This issue was raised by Congress MLAs Aditya Surjewala and Ashok Arora through a Calling Attention motion. The allegations focus on significant irregularities purportedly surrounding the procurement of paddy within the state.

Chief Minister’s Response

In response to these allegations, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini stated that the government has addressed any irregularities that have occurred in the paddy procurement process. He specifically rebutted Ashok Arora’s assertion of a ₹5,000 crore scam, suggesting that more significant scandals took place during the tenure of the Congress party.

Procurement Data Presented

To support his claims, the Chief Minister provided statistics regarding paddy procurement across several years. For the fiscal year 2021-22, Haryana procured 54.72 lakh metric tonnes of both PR and non-basmati paddy. This figure increased to 59.29 lakh metric tonnes in 2022-23, followed by 58.94 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24, and is projected to be 59.98 lakh metric tonnes in 2025-26. Basmati paddy procurement figures were also shared: 34 lakh metric tonnes in 2021-22, 35.36 lakh metric tonnes in the subsequent year, 42.55 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24, and an expected 44.84 lakh metric tonnes in 2025-26. The Chief Minister noted an anticipated production of 62.13 lakh metric tonnes of PR paddy for the current year.

Central Agencies and System Improvements

The Chief Minister emphasized that paddy procurement in Haryana is overseen by central agencies. He claimed that the state government has made substantial improvements to rectify past deficiencies in the procurement system. These enhancements include establishing checkpoints from the moment paddy enters the mandis until the rice is ready for distribution.

Rebuttal of Opposition Claims

Saini accused the Opposition of neglecting the improvements made in the procurement process, suggesting that they inaccurately portray the current government as simply a “portal government.” He raised concerns about the hardships faced by farmers due to alleged mismanagement during the previous Congress administration.

Farmers’ Registration and Financial Transactions

The Chief Minister elaborated on new initiatives aimed at improving paddy procurement. Farmers register their crops via the ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ platform, which provides precise data regarding cultivated areas and expected yields. He mentioned that in the 2025-26 period, 3.01 lakh farmers utilized the system to sell 13.62 lakh metric tonnes of PR paddy. For the upcoming agricultural season, an estimated total of 97.86 lakh metric tonnes of paddy is expected to arrive for procurement. Payments for these purchases are directly wired to farmers’ bank accounts through the portal.

Government Measures to Combat Irregularities

As part of the government’s commitment to transparency, mandis are being modernized, and measures are in place to promptly address any irregularities. The verification of paddy stored in rice mills was conducted by district committees, resulting in 12 FIRs against officials, commission agents, and millers. The actions led to departmental proceedings against 75 personnel, with 28 being suspended. The government has also recovered ₹6.37 crore, which has been deposited into the treasury.

Additional Procurement Initiatives

The Chief Minister also discussed initiatives related to millet (bajra) procurement, geo-tagging, electronic gate passes, biometric verification, vehicle tracking, and the integration of the procurement portal with the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) to optimize fertilizer distribution and prevent misallocation.

Comparison with Previous Governments

Saini criticized earlier administrations, stating that farmers often faced delays of up to six months for payments. He asserted that over the past 12 years, the current government has transferred ₹1.64 lakh crore directly into farmers’ accounts, claiming that their policies prioritize farmers’ welfare and transparency.

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