MAHA DHARNA
Telangana Reuters, Hyderabad, 8th September, 2026 : The Rice Millers Welfare Association-Telangana State has organised a Maha Dharma to bring to the attention of the Government of Telangana the long-pending issues and genuine concerns confronting rice millers across the State. The Maha Dharna was organised by Sri Padi Ganapathi Reddy, President Rice Millers Welfare Association-Telangana State.
Rice mills play a vital role in the procurement of paddy from farmers, processing of ice and the overall food-grain supply system. The fice milling sector is directly connected with the interests of farmers, the livelihood of workers and the food security of the State
However, prolonged administrative delays, increasing financial burdens, surprise inspections and raids, and unresolved issues relating to Custom Milled Rice (CMR) have placed the rice milling sector under severe pressure.
The Association therefore demands that the Government immediately initate meaningful dialogue with rice millers and establish a fair, scientific, transparent and sustainable framework for the rice milling sector
13 KEY DEMANDS
1. Immediately stop surprise raids by the Vigilance & Enforcement and Task Force authorities The Government should engage in dialogue with rice millers and resolve the issues through discussion
2. The Custom Milled Rice (CMR) Agreement should be formulated in a manner that is fair reasonable and acceptable to both parties
3. Scientific test milling should be conducted for every variety of paddy, and the outturn ratio should be determined separately for Kharif and Rabi seasons, taking into consideration the variety and actual quality of the paddy
4. Considering the present operating costs and the increasing expenditure on electricity, labour and maintenance, the milling charge should be fixed at $150 per quintal of paddy
5. The price of old gunny bags should be fixed at 11 per bag.
6. All pending Civil Supplies milling charges, transportation charges, drying charges and custodian charges due from 2014 onwards should be released immediately
7. The 25% penalty and 12% interest imposed on rice millers should be completely waived
8. The price of tendered paddy for Rabi 2022-23 should be determined in a fair and reasonable manner
9. Rice mills should be recognised as agriculture allied industries, and electricity supply up to 200 HP should be provided under the LT (Low Tension) category
10. The Government should supply paddy conforming to the prescribed FAQ (Fair Average Quality) standards. Where paddy supplied does not conform to FAQ standards, the rice recovery/outturn ratto should be determined based on the actual quality of the paddy supplied.
11. Rice millers who have become Non-Wilful Defaulters due to Government policies, procedural delays ar systemic issues should have their accounts fully settled and be provided an opportunity to clear their outstanding dues in four instalments
12. Kharif paddy should be accepted exclusively for raw rice production, and Rabi paddy exclusively for boiled rice production
13. The stringent norms prescribed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) should be reasonably relaxed, taking into consideration the genuine and practical difficulties faced by rice millers.
APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT : These demands are not merely issues concerning the rice milling industry. They are directly linked to the livelihood of thousands of workers, the interests of farmers, the State’s food-grain management system and food security. The Association therefore urges the Government to consider these issues with a positivapproach and immediately initiate meaningful discussions with rice millers to arrive at scientific, fair and mutually acceptable solutions to these long-standing problems.
FURTHER COURSE OF ACTION : If the Government fails to immediately initiate meaningful dialogue with rice millers and does not take positive steps towards accepting and resolving the above demands, the Rice Millers Welfare Association-Telangana State will have no option but to call for a statewide bandh of all rice mills in Telangana from September 11, 2026
The Association appeals to the Government to intervene immediately and resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue, mutual understanding and a fair settlement. This is not merely a struggle for the interests of rice millers, it is a struggle for the future of farmers, the livelihood of workers and the food security of Telangana.
In this protest, State General Secretary Sri Vootkuri Veeresham, Treasurer Viswanatham Venkata Ramana and others were participated in large numbers.
PROTECT RICE MILLERS- PROTECT FARMERS AND PROTECT WORKERS
