Thousands of quintals of government-procured paddy are reportedly missing annually in Chhattisgarh, a state known as India's rice bowl. Officials attribute the losses to natural causes like drying, pests, and spoilage, citing figures of around 3.5% loss. However, the sheer volume, particularly in Mahasamund district where 81,620 quintals were written off in ten months, suggests a potential larger scam beyond wildlife or weather damage. This discrepancy raises questions about the official explanations and the management of state-procured grains.