Congress govt at it again, Rythu Bharosa assistance limited to Rs 12,000 per annum

Chief Minister says the financial assistance will be released from January 26; blames the current financial condition of the State for his inability to keep his promise

Hyderabad: The Congress government, which came to power riding high on its promise of hiking the Rythu Bharosa financial assistance for farmers from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per acre, has once again revealed its deceptive side by limiting the hike to just Rs 12,000 per annum.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who said the financial assistance would be released from January 26, blamed the current financial condition of the State for his inability to keep his promise.

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Addressing the media after a Cabinet meeting here on Saturday, Revanth Reddy said the government was “forced” by the financial condition of the State to reduce the Rythu Bharosa amount.

“We will ensure that every cultivated land in the State gets the benefits of the scheme,” he said, also hinting at possible attempts to restrict the number of beneficiaries of the agricultural input scheme, which as Rythu Bandhu under the BRS government had pulled Telangana out of an agrarian crisis and earned plaudits with even the Centre replicating it.

The Chief Minister said landless farmers and tenant farmers would also be provided Rs 12,000 annually under the Indiramma Atmiya Bharosa scheme. A sub-committee, constituted to recommend eligibility criteria for beneficiaries, submitted its report during the meeting.

The Chief Minister also announced that all eligible families in the State would be provided ration cards soon. “The government has decided to provide ration cards to all the people who deserve it,” he said.

The Cabinet also discussed the formation of a Yadagirigutta Temple Trust Board modelled after the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) and the timing of upcoming elections for local bodies, including Gram Panchayats, Zilla Parishads, and Mandal Parishads, which are expected to take place after the Sankranti festival.

The Indiramma housing and distribution of fine rice through ration shops was also discussed.