Trilochan Nayak, 53, died on February 26 in Kendrapada district after waiting three days outside a rice mill without shelter or food for paddy procurement. His family alleges harassment by cooperative society officials caused his death and has demanded a judicial probe. District authorities claim their inquiry shows Nayak received ₹1.10 lakh for 39 quintals sold and attribute death to pre-existing cardiac issues.
Odisha operates a paddy procurement system where registered farmers at cooperative societies can sell at the minimum support price of ₹2,369 per quintal. On January 16, 2026, Trilochan Nayak received an online token from the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department authorizing sale of 39.90 quintals within one month at Iswarpur cooperative society in Kendrapara district. The Iswarpur society has 660 registered farmers and faced a procurement target of 11,000 quintals for the season. Farmers must undergo iris-scan biometric authentication before sale to curb unauthorized paddy entry. Nayak earned approximately ₹8,000-10,000 monthly from his 1-acre farm and carried ₹1 lakh debt incurred three years earlier for his daughter's wedding.
After the cooperative society allegedly failed to procure his paddy despite completing iris-scan on February 14, Nayak transported 39 quintals to a rice mill 20 km away on February 22 following the society secretary's suggestion. Transport cost ₹9,000 for tractor rental plus ₹3,000 unloading charges. Nayak waited three days without shelter or adequate food from February 23-25 outside the mill. On February 25, the miller confirmed purchase of 51 quintals. Nayak walked home complaining of chest pain, collapsed upon arrival, and was rushed to Primary Healthcare Centre then Rajnagar Community Health Centre. He was declared dead late Wednesday evening. District Collector Raghuram Iyer confirmed two separate inquiries: one by Supplies and Cooperation Departments, another by the tehsildar. Nayak's wife Bharati filed a written complaint on Friday demanding judicial probe.
This case exposes critical gaps in Odisha's procurement system affecting vulnerable farmers. Nayak's family lost ₹12,000 in transportation costs (₹9,000 tractor + ₹3,000 unloading) that could have paid two weeks' household expenses. The three-day wait without shelter or food during peak stress triggered his cardiac collapse—a direct causal link between administrative failure and death. For the 660 farmers in Iswarpur society, this reveals that cooperative procurement targets can override individual farmers' grievances, forcing costly private mill sales. The contradiction in records (paddy sold February 14 vs. mill receipt February 25) suggests either procurement manipulation or documentation fraud. For tenant farmers holding ₹1-2 lakh debts, such delays transform survival crises into tragedies within days.
Two official inquiries must resolve contradictions: why iris-scan occurred February 14 but paddy appeared at mills February 23; whether procurement quota was actually met. Results due by March 15 based on standard inquiry timelines. Nayak's family awaits decision on judicial probe petition filed February 28—High Court can intervene if refused by March 10. The Cooperative Minister must clarify whether procurement priority overrides farmers' survival needs. If inquiries attribute death to system failure rather than health issues, compensation claims of ₹10-20 lakh will follow. Odisha must implement mandatory shelter and food facilities at procurement points—a reform overdue across all paddy-buying states.