By Ifham Nizam
Plans are afoot to increase the allowance paid to those recruited on a casual basis as the caretakers of the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) warehouses.
The PMB caretakers appointed to ensure the safety of the PMB warehouses were paid a monthly allowance between Rs. 7,500 and Rs. 10,000 each, Chairman of the Paddy Marketing Board Neil de Alwis said.Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has pointed out to the PMB that the monthly allowance paid to the currently appointed casual caretakers was not sufficient.
As most of the paddy stores are located away from public places, sometimes cases of vandalism and abduction of paddy stores employees are reported. Such incidents have been reported from time to time after the paddy marketing board started purchasing paddy.About two weeks ago, a warehouse belonging to the PMB in the Dambulla area was broken into and 200 bags of paddy were stolen. The police arrested the thieves and took legal action within a few days.As such incidents are reported from time to time, the Minister advised the PMB to strengthen the security of paddy warehouses.