The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation AITUC has suggested the revival of “price cut” mechanism in paddy procurement.

In a statement on September 26, the TNCSC AITUC general secretary, C. Chandrakumar, pointed out that when the responsibility of paddy procurement remained with the State government in the past, price cut was effected proportionate to the moisture content.

After the State government donning the role of ‘procurement agency’ and started procuring paddy through TNCSC on behalf of the Central government, the norms for procurement were laid down by the Central government. Hence a flat 17 per cent moisture content criteria was being adopted despite the fact that paddy harvesting being carried out during monsoon or rainy days in Tamil Nadu.

In the past, Mr.Chandrakumar said, when the State government procured paddy after framing the procurement conditions on its own, price cut was effected proportionate to the moisture content and paddy having moisture content of up to 24% was procured.

But now, paddy with higher moisture content was being procured by creating records that the consignment comply with the moisture content rule of 17%, draining the exchequer, he said.

Hence, he called upon the State government to impress upon the Centre to empower the State government to decide on the moisture content condition and effect a cut in the purchase price proportionate to the moisture content.