Bhubaneswar, Jan 3: The Odisha government has rolled out Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfers for paddy procurement during the ongoing Kharif season, aiming to ensure transparency and efficiency by crediting payments directly to the accounts of genuine farmers across the state.

Procurement Across 18 Districts

Paddy procurement has commenced in 18 districts, with 2,71,318 farmers selling their produce at designated Mandis. Of these, payments have already been credited to 1,85,820 farmers. The government has disbursed Rs 2,247.52 crore towards Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Rs 693.51 crore as Input Assistance.

Aadhaar-Based Payments

For the first time, Aadhaar authentication has been made mandatory to ensure that only genuine farmers registered on the Paddy Procurement Automation System (P-PAS) portal receive payments directly into their bank accounts. Officials reported that less than one percent of transactions failed, largely due to account freezes, Aadhaar de-seeding, pending KYC, or transaction limits.

Addressing Failed Transactions

The Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) has identified all failed cases and is contacting affected farmers through registered mobile numbers. Farmers are being advised to visit their bank branches to update details. District-level DRCS offices are also assisting in rectifying discrepancies to ensure timely payments.

Advisory to Farmers

Authorities have urged farmers to update their KYC details promptly. For assistance, they may contact OSCSC headquarters or dial the toll-free helpline number 1967.