Harish Rao demands Rythu Bheema benefits for families of deceased farmers

BRS leader T Harish Rao accused the Telangana government of failing to pay Rythu Bheema premiums, leaving families of deceased farmers without benefits. After meeting relatives of 22 farmers in Siddipet, he demanded compensation and threatened a protest

Siddipet: Former Minister T Harish Rao alleged that the Congress government’s failure to pay the Rythu Bheema premium had pushed thousands of families across Telangana into crisis, denying them the ₹5 lakh insurance benefit under the scheme.

Harish Rao hosted the family members of 22 farmers from Siddipet who died after August 14, the deadline for payment of the premium, over lunch at his camp office.

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Accusing Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of halting welfare schemes introduced by the BRS government, Rao said farmers’ families used to receive ₹5 lakh soon after the death of the insured farmer under the Rythu Bheema scheme. He alleged that the Chief Minister’s decision had left the families in distress. When he enquired about their plight, the widows of the farmers broke down, saying they had received no benefits following the deaths of their family heads.

The former minister said the BRS government had paid ₹7,000 crore towards premiums between 2018 and 2024, benefiting more than 1.38 lakh farmers.

Rao alleged that the Congress government had also discontinued schemes such as KCR Kit, fee reimbursement and sheep distribution, besides failing to fulfil commitments relating to loan waivers, Rythu Bharosa and 24-hour power supply.

Accusing Revanth Reddy of shifting the blame onto officials for power shortages, Rao said the Chief Minister was trying to mislead the public by threatening to suspend Transco officials over power cuts. Holding Revanth Reddy responsible for the electricity crisis, he said the Chief Minister should step down instead.

Rao threatened to lay siege to the Chief Minister’s Office and the Secretariat unless the government paid ₹5 lakh in ex gratia to the families of farmers who had been denied the Rythu Bheema benefit. He demanded that the Congress government pay the scheme’s premium immediately to ensure that farmers’ families received the benefits.