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Journalism of Courage
The word advance,part of Bihars original agreement with 963 rice millers in 2011-12,was dropped from the copy received in response to an RTI query.
The original agreement,a copy of which is with The Indian Express,mentions advance rice for paddy once each in the first four paragraphs. The State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Limiteds reply to an RTI query,also with this paper,came without the word advance in any of the four paragraphs.
I was shocked when I tried to match the two copies, said RTI activist Shiv Prakash Rai. The word advance made it mandatory for millers to deposit the first installment of rice with FCI on behalf of SFC,and continue to do so on rotation. Since each miller deposited only Rs 50,000 as security money,adherence to the advance clause would have ensured a miller did not get excess paddy.
The original agreement format said,After delivery of advance rice,proportionate paddy will be issued to the miller by SFC. And the first paragraph says,…regarding lifting of paddy and delivering of advance rice against paddy .
Rai says he has complained to the Bihar State Information Commission about the SFC having provided misleading information.
Food and Consumer Protection Minister Shyam Rajak said too much is being made of the word advance. It was practically impossible to adhere to that clause as the state government was taking over paddy procurement for the first time, he said.
