Telangana CM launches Rythu Bandhu scheme for farmers

Over 58 lakh farmers of the semi-arid Telangana state will receive financial assistance of Rs 8,000 per acre per year under a new scheme Rythu Bandhu.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday formally launched the scheme at a massive public meeting at Dharmarajupalle-Indiranagar, in Huzurabad Block of Karimnagar district.

The innovative scheme aimed at providing relief to debt-ridden farmers will cost the state exchequer Rs 12,000 crore.

He handed over the first cheque and new Pattadar passbook to B Sanjiva Reddy of Dharmarajupalem. Distribution of cheques to farmers will simultaneously take place in other districts for over a week.

The huge gathering of farmers passed resolutions demanding the central government to link Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) with agriculture to enable the state governments to bear 50% of farm-labour expenses.

The meeting also passed another resolution demanding 25% hike in existing Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops. “Telangana has water, power and investment. Now we will fight for MSP for all crops,” KCR said.

According to state Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy, an amount of Rs 4,000 for Kharif and Rs 4,000 for Rabi seasons will be paid separately via cheques.

Of around 2.9 crore acre land in the state, 1.4 crore acre has been identified as cultivable and preparations are being made to issue cheques to farmers. However, tenant farmer will not receive any benefit for the time being.

All the 30 district collectors in the state have completed the physical verification of each farmer and his land and the cheques have been made ready.

Cash has already reached six nationalised and two rural banks, selected by the state-level banker's committee, ready for encashment of cheques by the beneficiaries. Instructions were given not to distribute this cash to purposes other than Rythu Bandhu scheme.