Nabarangpur: Farmers have demanded the dissolution of the current management board of the Kodiga Cooperative Society in Nabarangpur district and the formation of a new board. On Wednesday, farmers from the Madhegaon, Karlamal, and Chirima panchayats of Nabarangpur district submitted this demand to Deputy Registrar of Nabarangpur Cooperative Society, Mr. Sadananda Behera.
According to the farmers, the members of the current management board of the Kodiga Cooperative Society were not elected but rather appointed by the Managing Director (MD). As a result, the board is prioritizing the MD’s interests over the welfare of the farmers. Be it the paddy market, fertilizer distribution, or farmer loan processes — the MD and board have shown clear bias.
To eliminate this partiality, farmers have demanded that the current board be dissolved immediately and a new board be formed through elections. Farmers Subrata Mahapatra, Arjun Bisi, Radhakanta Mahapatra, Lambodar Bisi, Khemaraj Nayak, and Yudhishthir Mali were among those who raised this concern. In response, Deputy Registrar Sadananda Behera assured that appropriate action would be taken after an investigation into the allegations.
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Farmers have further alleged that members of the management board were taken on tours across India using society funds. Employees of the society are also accused of selling fertilizers and seeds at prices higher than the government-fixed rates.
Farmers complained that their paddy often remains dumped in the mandi (market yard) during drought years, whereas the paddy of board members is directly picked up from their homes. Even the biometric eye scan process is reportedly conducted at the residences of board members.
Deputy Registrar Sadananda Behera has accepted the complaint letter submitted by the farmers.
It has also been alleged that the board members are collectively involved in corruption and embezzlement of funds. Moreover, each year, the society fails to nominate any farmer from surrounding panchayats to be a member of the management board.
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