WB govt to procure 42,000 mt paddy this year

The West Bengal government will procure 42,000 mt paddy this year and the farmers will get price for his produce right after selling it, state Food Minister Jyotipriya Mullick said here today.
Cooperative societies will give cheques to farmers for the price of the sold paddy, Mullick said.
Earlier, the farmers used to get cheques from the state government.
The minister said the government will also create a database of farmers.
North Bengal Development Minister Rabindranath Ghosh, who along with Mullick held a meeting with district officials, said the state government wants to amend the Plantation Labour Act to stop tea garden owners from shirking responsibility of the workers once a garden is closed.

The proposal would be sent to the central government, he said.
Mullick said, tea garden workers would get rice at Rs 2 a kg.