CM Revanth Reddy makes false claims over continuation of past government’s schemes
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has been making claims about continuing the previous government’s welfare initiatives
Hyderabad: After abolishing the KCR Kits, KCR Nutritional Kits, Bathukamma sarees, and several other schemes, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has been making claims about continuing the previous government’s welfare initiatives, while also inflating loan repayment figures within a month.
To promote institutional deliveries, the previous government had implemented the KCR Kits and KCR Nutritional Kits. Apart from providing essential items like baby soap, powder, handbags, towels, and diapers, pregnant women received financial assistance of Rs 12,000 in three phases. In the case of a girl child’s birth, an additional Rs 1,000 was given.
Similarly, women were gifted sarees annually during the Bathukamma festivities. All these schemes have now been discontinued by the Congress government.
Although self-help group (SHG) women were promised two sarees annually, the scheme is yet to take off. Likewise, during the Assembly elections, the Congress party had pledged to offer one tola of gold along with Rs 1,00,116 under the Kalyana Lakshmi scheme.
Over the last 16 months, the Congress government has been distributing Kalyana Lakshmi cheques, albeit with significant delays and to a limited number of beneficiaries. Yet, during the May Day celebrations at Ravindra Bharathi, the Chief Minister claimed that all welfare schemes, including the crop loan waiver, Kalyana Lakshmi, and Rythu Bharosa were being continued.
However, the reality remains that these schemes are being implemented partially, not comprehensively.
Under Rythu Bharosa, the Congress had promised Rs 15,000 per acre annually to farmers. However, this has been reduced to Rs 12,000 per acre. Furthermore, it was assured that the amount would be deposited in farmers’ accounts before March 31 this year. Even this reduced assistance has not been extended to all farmers and is restricted to one village per mandal across the State.
At the Rythu Mahotsavam programme on April 22 in Nizamabad, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao publicly apologised to farmers for the delay in releasing the Rythu Bharosa assistance. This incident underscores the Congress government’s current stance on farmers’ welfare.
Similarly, under the crop loan waiver scheme, farmers were promised that loans up to Rs 2 lakh would be waived by August 15, 2024. Even after nine months, many farmers are still struggling to get their loans waived.
At the same Rythu Mahotsavam event, Nizamabad Rural MLA Bhupathi Reddy reminded the government that many eligible farmers were yet to receive the loan waiver, despite their loans being well within theRs 2 lakh ceiling. He said a list of such farmers had already been submitted to the government. In contrast to these ground realities, the Chief Minister continues to make claims about continuing previous government schemes and launching new welfare initiatives.
Loan Repayment Figures See Sudden Jump
Interestingly, the Chief Minister has also escalated the loan repayment figures, sparking surprise and criticism. At the India Today Conclave on March 8 in New Delhi, the Chief Minister stated that the State government was spending Rs 6,500 crore every month towards clearing debts and paying interest on loans taken by the previous government.
However, during the May Day celebrations, the Chief Minister claimed that the State government was raising Rs 10,000 crore every month to repay debts and interest. This sudden jump in figures within a month has left many questioning the accuracy of these claims.
