New guidelines of Rythu Bharosa disappoint farmers

The scheme offers support only for the cultivable lands registered under Bhubharati and it excludes strictly the non-cultivable lands

Hyderabad: The Congress government has issued much-awaited guidelines for the Rythu Bharosa scheme, scheduled to be implemented from January 26. The scheme promises a yearly investment assistance of Rs 12,000 per acre to eligible farmers. However, many in the farming community have expressed disappointment and frustration with the new directives. The scheme offers support only for the cultivable lands registered under Bhubharati and it excludes strictly the non-cultivable lands.

The pattaland holdings under the ROFR will also be eligible for the assistance which would be remitted to the accounts of the farmers under as per the direct benefit transfer (DBT) norms of the RBI. The implementation has been entrusted to the Director Agriculture while the National Informatics Centre (NIT) would be extending IT support for the programme. The district collectors have been tasked with the responsibility of addressing the grievances of farmers in implementation of the scheme.

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It is feared that particularly the small-scale and less-educated farmers might struggle with the formalities, leading to their exclusion from the benefits. Many farmers believe these stringent measures pose unnecessary hurdles. They suspect that the government’s decision to reframe the guidelines might be a strategy to reduce the number of eligible beneficiaries, further adding to their distress.