Khamanu, Punjab:
In Punjab, tonnes of grain continue to lie in the open and rot due to lack of storage facilities. Even after the Supreme Court order, there has been no change and the fresh harvest continues to rot even as thousands starve.
Rains have set in but in Khamanu, about 75,000 kg of grain is lying outside the godowns, which is enough to feed 1,000 families below the poverty level for three months. And it will most likely rot.
"The poor people should get this. Grains are rotting here for last 10 years. Now they have brought in fresh stocks. Even this will rot," said Iqbal Singh, a farmer.
Across Punjab's warehouses, it is the same story.
An estimated 90 lakh metric tonnes of fresh wheat and paddy have not found safe house.
Despite repeated directions by the Supreme Court to channelise the extra stock among the poor, Punjab's grain management remains at best a huge drain on our food resources.