Kothagudem’s JD Foundation launches ‘Rythu Cheyutha’ to help tenant farmers

The foundation’s Khammam convener K Muralimohan Kumar said tenant farmers were often falling into debt trap as they were forced to take loans from private money lenders.

Kothagudem: JD Foundation has launched a programme called ‘Rythu Cheyutha’ to extend financial assistance to tenant farmers in and around Bhadrachalam in the district.

The foundation’s Khammam convener K Muralimohan Kumar said tenant farmers were often falling into debt trap as they were forced to take loans from private money lenders.

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As tenant farmers face the problem of inadequate credit and rarely get loans from governmental institutions, they depend on private lenders. Given their condition, the foundation decided to lend a helping hand to tenant farmers, Kumar told Telangana Today here on Friday.

On a pilot basis, three tenant farmers, Amarajyothi, Mani and M Venkateshwar Rao were given Rs 11, 000 each. The farmers had to return the money to the foundation after harvesting the crops they grew. The programme was launched in both Telugu States.

The money extended to farmers was donated by an NRI, Akunuri Ramana Rao. After studying the efficacy of the programme, the number of farmers supported under Rythu Cheyutha would be increased from next year onwards, Kumar explained.

He further informed that marking ‘Eruvaka Pournami’ nine tenant farmers, including two women farmers selected from Bhadrachalam, Purushottapatnam, Nellipaka, Kollugudem and Yella Bayyaram were felicitated.

The foundation has been felicitating the small scale and tenant farmers in about 31 districts in two Telugu speaking States for the past two years. ASP Dr G Vineeth, Chamber of Commerce Secretary K Suresh Kumar and others took part in the programme, he added.