Archive · 14 Aug 2026
MP Sudhir Gupta Raises 15 Demands for Opium Policy
A leader named Sudhir Gupta went to a big government meeting about opium farming.
Opium comes from special plants that are used to make some medicines.
The meeting was about new rules for growing these plants.
Gupta asked the government to make 15 changes to help farmers.
He wants the rule for checking the plants to be set at a fair level.
He also wants farmers to be judged on five years of work, not just one year.
He asked for help for farmers whose crops were ruined by bad weather or animals.
He wants farmers who lost their growing permits to get them back.
He also wants farmers to get better prices for what they grow.
And he wants them to be told about important dates at least 15 days early.
MP Sudhir Gupta raised 15 demands for opium farmers at a Union Finance Ministry meeting on the 2026-27 Opium Cultivation Policy.
Gupta urged an average morphine standard of 3.5% and licence eligibility based on farmers' five-year average performance instead of a single year's yield.
He demanded special relief for farmers affected by natural disasters, crop theft and wildlife damage, saying such losses should not lead to licence cancellation.
He sought re-inclusion of farmers who lost licences in previous years, eligible farmers denied licences, and those acquitted in NDPS cases.
Other demands included higher prices for opium gum and CPS poppy straw, transparent morphine testing with re-testing provisions, and digital notification of licence and weighing dates at least 15 days in advance.
- Who
- MP Sudhir Gupta raised the demands; Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary chaired the meeting.
- What
- A meeting on the 2026-27 Opium Cultivation Policy where 15 demands for opium farmers were presented.
- When
- During discussions on the 2026-27 Opium Cultivation Policy (exact meeting date not stated in the article).
- Where
- At the Union Finance Ministry, concerning the Mandsaur-Neemuch-Jaora region in Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- To seek fairer licence eligibility, relief from losses, and better prices for opium farmers.
- Topic
- 2026-27 Opium Cultivation Policy
- Number of Demands
- 15
- Meeting Venue
- Union Finance Ministry
- Meeting Chair
- Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary
- Proposed Morphine Standard
- 3.5% average
- Proposed Licence Basis
- Five-year average performance
- Minimum Licence Size
- 10-are
- Affected Region
- Mandsaur-Neemuch-Jaora, Madhya Pradesh