**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 2638 in the Lok Sabha, concerning the mis-appropriation of rice procurement from Nashik. The question was to be answered on December 16th, 2025. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare addresses reports of rice mis-appropriation, confirming an inquiry and actions taken.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Reports of Mis-appropriation:**
* The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) informed of reports that government-procured paddy from Nashik was being sold in the black market of Gujarat, as published in some local newspapers on May 2, 2025.
* **Inquiry and Actions:**
* The Maharashtra State Cooperative Tribal Development Corporation constituted an inquiry committee on May 2, 2025.
* Due to suspicious matters discovered during the inquiry, the Corporation ordered the seizure and locking of the bank guarantee of the alleged miller.
* Officials from The Tribal Development Corporation filed a complaint in Surgana Police station on May 22, 2025.
* **Preventative Measures:**
* The Government of Maharashtra has instructed agencies to install GPS in paddy carrying vehicles and CCTV cameras in rice mills.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Government of Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** The government is responsible for investigating and preventing the reoccurrence of rice mis-appropriation.
* **Action Required:** The Government needs to continue monitoring and enforcing the GPS and CCTV installations.
**Stakeholder: Tribal Development Corporation (Procuring Agency in Maharashtra)**
* **Impact:** The Tribal Development Corporation is the procuring agency, and they conducted the investigation.
* **Action Required:** They need to continue to cooperate with investigations and implementing preventative measures, such as stricter oversight of rice procurement and distribution.
**Stakeholder: Farmers in Nashik district**
* **Impact:** Farmers are potentially affected by mis-appropriation of rice procurement, which could impact their income and fair compensation for their produce.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action noted.
**Stakeholder: Citizens of Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** Citizens of Maharashtra would be affected by the financial losses caused by the mis-appropriation of Rice Procurement.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action noted.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The central government ministry responsible for matters related to agriculture and farmers' welfare; the subject of the parliamentary question.
Nashik: The district in Maharashtra where the alleged rice misappropriation occurred; defines the scope of the issue.
Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD): The department that provided information regarding the misappropriation of rice.
Maharashtra State Cooperative Tribal Development Corporation: The corporation in Maharashtra that constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the issue.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2638
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16TH DECEMBER, 2025
MIS-APPROPRIATION OF RICE PROCUREMENT FROM NASHIK
2638. DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान
क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken cognisance of the reports regarding mis-
appropriation of rice procured from the Nashik district through procurement scheme;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has instituted an enquiry to review into the issue, if
so, the details thereof including findings of the investigation and if not, the reasons
therefor;
(d) whether the Government has initiated any punitive action against those
responsible and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the action taken by the Government to prevent reoccurrence of such
incidents?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ(cid:874)ष एव ं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य म(cid:287)ं ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (d): As per the information received from Department of Food and Public
Distribution (DFPD), the Tribal Development Corporation (a procuring agency in
Maharashtra) has communicated that on 2 May 2025 some local newspaper published
that Government procured Paddy is being sold in black market of Gujarat.
The Maharashtra State Cooperative Tribal Development Corporation, constituted
an inquiry committee on 2 May 2025. In view of certain suspicious matters that have
emerged during the course of the inquiry, the Corporation has ordered the seizure and
locking of the bank guarantee of the alleged miller.
Also the officials from The Tribal Development Corporation filed a complaint in
Surgana Police station on 22 May 2025.
(e ): The Government of Maharashtra has instructed agencies to install GPS in
paddy carrying vehicle and installation of CCTV camers in rice mills.
*****