MLCs raise student suicide, paddy procurement issues

Patna: Members of the Bihar legislative council on Wednesday raised concerns over the alleged suicide of a BSEB Matric examinee who was denied entry to the examination hall for arriving 10 minutes late on Tuesday. Members also flagged delays and hurdles in paddy procurement across several districts during the budget session.MLC Shashsi Yadav raised the case of a candidate from Masaurhi in Patna district who allegedly jumped in front of a train after she was not allowed to appear for the examination a day earlier as she was late by 10 minutes. MLCs Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Urmila Thakur and Nawal Kishore Yadav also expressed concern and sought intervention.MLC Sanjeev Kumar Singh said candidates often get delayed by a few minutes due to traffic and transport problems and should not be stopped from taking examinations. MLC Nawal Kishore Yadav said many students were allotted centres 20km to 40km from their homes, creating travel difficulties, and urged the govt to provide centres closer to home or restore home centres. Chairperson Awadhesh Narain Singh said the govt had taken note of the matter and was sensitive to the issue.The House also discussed complaints about the slow pace of paddy procurement. MLC Maheshwar Singh said farmers were being turned away citing moisture content and impurities, and that payments were taking four to five days, forcing them to sell at lower prices. He said farmers were incurring losses by selling in the market at rates lower by Rs 250 to Rs 400 per quintal.Replying for the govt, cabinet minister Ashok Choudhary said procurement operations began in 19 districts of north Bihar on Nov 1, 2025, and in 19 districts of south Bihar on Nov 15, 2025. He said Bihar had been assigned a target of 36.85 lakh metric tonnes and that by Dec 2025, 10.29 lakh metric tonnes — 28% of the target — had been procured from 1.42 lakh farmers. He added that the state minister had met the Union counterpart seeking an extension of the deadline.Separately, members raised the need for a clear policy on the Bettiah estate through a call attention motion. MLCs Maheshwar Singh, Saurabh Kumar, Bhishm Sahni and Sachchidanand Rai said farmers were receiving notices to vacate land, creating fear. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha said a policy was being framed.