KTR bats for farmers input assistance without restrictions
The BRS government had offered 4.5 lakh podu pattas to tribal and other community farmers. These farmers cultivate only one crop in a year due water availability and if restrictions were imposed in extending assistance to them under Rythu Bandhu or the new Rythu Bharosa, it would be detrimental to them, he stressed.
Hyderabad: Reminding that KCR government had extended Rythu Bandu assistance to all farmers, without considering IT payments and other factors, BRS Working president KT Rama Rao said there were apprehensions among the farmers that restrictions could be imposed on extending the input subsidy under the scheme.
The BRS government had offered 4.5 lakh podu pattas to tribal and other community farmers. These farmers cultivate only one crop in a year due water availability and if restrictions were imposed in extending assistance to them under Rythu Bandhu or the new Rythu Bharosa, it would be detrimental to them, he stressed.
Speaking during a short discussion on Rythu Bharosa in the Assembly on Saturday, the BRS working president said cotton and pigeon peas crops were cultivated for seven to eight months, unlike other crops. Will these farmers get input subsidy for one season or both seasons, he asked the government.
During the elections, the Congress party had misled people that Rythu Bandhu was being extended to landlords and those who own vast tracts of lands. Among the Rs.72,000 crore assistance extended during last 12 seasons to farmers by the BRS government, 91.37 percent was extended to farmers owning less than five acres.
Similarly, the Congress party had promised to extend input subsidy to farmers and tenant farmers, besides assistance to farm labourers as well. On the contrary, the assistance was not extended in the last seasons, he said.
“As per the Rythu Bharosa promise made to farmers, the Congress government owes Rs.26,775 crore to 70 lakh acres in the State,” Rama Rao said.
The KCR government accorded top priority to agriculture sector and extended 24 hours free power supply to the farming community. The initiatives taken up during the KCR government transformed Telangana into the granary of India, he stressed, adding that among all the districts in the State, erstwhile Nalgonda emerged as the largest producer of paddy.
Intervening, Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy claimed that paddy production in Nalgonda had increased due to Nagarjunasagar and other irrigation projects constructed by the Congress government in the past.
In reply, the BRS working president countered and asked him if that was the case, why did Nalgonda failed to increase paddy production before 2014.
As he was speaking, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, PRRD Minister D Anasuya, whip Adi Srinivas and other members intervened.
The BRS working president was also critical of the Congress government claims on crop loan waiver scheme. He said while Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced that 100 percent crop loan waiver was done in the State, Congress MLA from Peddapalli Ramana Rao says in his constituency 72 percent crop loan waiver was completed.
The BRS working president also wondered how the Congress government had cut down Rs.49,500 crore amount required for crop loan to nearly Rs.19,000 crore. During the SLBC meeting, it was estimated that Rs.49,500 crore was required, later the Chief Minister said about Rs.40,000 crore was needed. The cabinet approved Rs.31,000 crore for loan waiver and eventually Rs.26,000 crore was allocated in the budget. This reflected the Congress government’s commitment towards the farming community, he said.
“The State government had constituted a cabinet sub committee on Rythu Bharosa. It is just a time pass initiative as it wants to evade assistance to all farmers and imposed limits,” Rama Rao charged and reminded to the Chief that tenant farmers and farm labourers were waiting eagerly for assistance.
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