Orissa High Court allows women SHGs to participate in paddy procurement for KMS 2026-27

The Orissa High Court has issued a directive allowing several women-led Self Help Groups (SHGs) from the Bhadrak district to participate in the ongoing Kharif paddy procurement operations for the 2026-27 Kharif Marketing Season (KMS). This legal intervention follows a dispute between the SHGs and the state government, which had previously argued that the groups lacked the necessary infrastructure to handle the procurement process effectively.

By permitting these groups to engage in the procurement cycle, the court has addressed concerns regarding the inclusion of grassroots organizations in state-led agricultural initiatives. The procurement of paddy is a critical economic activity for farmers in Odisha, and the involvement of SHGs is often viewed as a mechanism to ensure more direct support and better price realization for local producers.

While the state government had initially raised objections based on technical and infrastructural requirements, the court's decision underscores the legal recognition of these groups' capacity to contribute to the supply chain. The ruling is expected to have implications for how procurement operations are managed in the region moving forward, potentially setting a precedent for the inclusion of similar community-based organizations in future marketing seasons.