Raipur, November 27, 2024 Farmers in Chhattisgarh no longer need to travel long distances to access their payments for paddy sales. At the paddy procurement center in Kodapakha, located in the Durgukondal block of Kanker district, farmers now receive instant cash payments through micro ATMs. This initiative has saved local farmers, like Shri Milap Ram Patel from Bangachar village, the hassle of traveling 10–12 kilometers to the block headquarters for banking services.
Shri Patel, after selling his paddy at the Kodapakha center, withdrew ₹1,000 using the micro ATM. He expressed gratitude to the government, stating, “Using the micro ATM is simple and convenient. With just an Aadhaar number and fingerprint, I could withdraw cash immediately. This facility is truly a blessing for us farmers.”
Revolutionizing Payment Systems for Farmers
To ensure ease of access to cash, the state government has introduced micro ATMs at paddy procurement centers across even the remotest areas of Chhattisgarh. This facility enables farmers to withdraw cash instantly, ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹10,000, addressing their immediate needs such as transportation, labor wages, and other expenses.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, the government has deployed micro ATMs at all 2,058 cooperative societies, significantly enhancing the convenience for farmers. Over the past 15 days, farmers have collectively withdrawn approximately ₹2.21 crore from these micro ATMs at procurement centers.
Significant Cash Withdrawals Across Cooperative Banks
Between November 1 and November 30, farmers withdrew substantial amounts from various district cooperative banks through micro ATMs:
- Apex Bank: ₹4.59 lakh
- Raipur District Cooperative Bank: ₹83.87 lakh
- Durg District Cooperative Bank: ₹44.12 lakh
- Rajnandgaon District Cooperative Bank: ₹15.28 lakh
- Bastar (Jagdalpur) District Cooperative Bank: ₹3.27 lakh
- Bilaspur District Cooperative Bank: ₹68.83 lakh
- Surguja (Ambikapur) District Cooperative Bank: ₹0.80 lakh
Timely Payments Under Support Price Procurement
Since November 14, the state government has been procuring paddy at support prices, ensuring that payments are transferred to farmers’ bank accounts within 72 hours. However, the introduction of micro ATMs has provided an additional layer of convenience, allowing immediate access to funds up to ₹10,000.
A Relief for Farmers
Farmers have expressed relief over this innovative system. The ability to withdraw cash on-site eliminates the need for borrowing money to cover transportation and labor costs. With this initiative, the government has not only streamlined the payment process but also empowered farmers with timely access to their earnings, ensuring financial stability and reducing dependence on external sources for immediate cash needs.
This pioneering move by the state government has been hailed as a significant step toward farmer welfare and economic empowerment in Chhattisgarh.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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