72 centres opened to lift Rabi paddy in WG dist

Eluru (West Godavari): Seventy two paddy purchase centres have been opened in the district to purchase paddy produced during Rabi season, disclosed Dr Baburao Naidu, Joint Collector here on Friday, April 12, 2013. He was participating in the training classes for agricultural and Indira Kranti Pathakam (IKP) officials on paddy purchase by offering minimum support price for farmers. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Naidu said that the government has opened 72 paddy purchase centres, in addition to the 12 centres opened through Primary Agricultural Cooperative societies. He told the officials to use their experience in running the purchase centres for the past two years and offer the best remunerative price to farmers and not to hesitate to open more such centres to meet the demand. If they encounter any problem at the centre, he told them to use the toll free number 1800 425 8848 and solve the problem. Every purchase centre will have a team leader, assistant team leader, in-charge of the centre and five member women team and a millers representative to oversee the operations, he said. Expecting 12 lakh metric tonnes of paddy production during Rabi season in the district, he said it was decided to purchase one lakh tones through IKP centres. Amma Hastham from April 16 Dr Naidu informed that the prestigious Amma Hastham scheme under which nine essential items would be supplied to poor would be launched in the district from April 16. Under the scheme, nine essential items that cost around Rs 300 in the open market would be supplied at Rs 185. Saying that the scheme would be a boon to the poor and middle class, he asked women groups to actively participate in making the scheme a big success. DRDA Project Director Y Ramakrishna, District Civil Supplies Manager M Salim Khan among others participated in the programme.