Telangana CM KCR launches Rythu Bandhu scheme

Karimnagar, May 10: The Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has launched the Rythu Bandhu scheme in Karimnagar on Thursday, which will ensure that a large majority of farmers in the state will get Rs 8,000 per acre per year for two crops.

This comes after the state government said that it decided to distribute 57.33 lakh passbooks to farmers all over the state after the Revenue Department conducted a massive survey.

According to media reports, each acre consists of 40 guntas and the state government has promised an amount of Rs 100 to each gunta. While 40.92 lakh farmers own between one gunta and 2.5 acres and will get cheques worth Rs 100 to Rs 10,000 each, around 6,500 farmers in the state will get cheques worth over Rs 1 lakh, as they own land exceeding 25 acres each.

The state government has claimed that this will help the farmers in investing in the crops and procuring materials like fertilizers.

"Farmers are in a state of helplessness and distress all over the world. Farmers are throwing their produce on roads at several places in the world, as they are not getting the Minimum Support Price. They are suffering losses as they are failed to get their investment back.

The government without being bothered by the heavy expenditure has decided to give Rs. 8,000 assistance under the scheme per acre to the farmer." Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had said in a statement last month.

"Take receipts from those receiving the passbooks and cheques. Form grievance cells to listen to the people who may have some problems. Collectors should have meeting with the bankers and ensure that cash is given once the cheques are presented,” the CM clarified.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister's office last week, Rs 4,114.62 crore was kept ready in various banks ahead of the scheme's launch, while a meeting was held with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officials to get another Rs 2,000 crore.

"By the time cheques are to be dispersed, Rs 6,000 crore cash reserves would be kept ready with the banks," KCR said.

The funds are kept with SBI, Telangana Grameena Bank, Grameena Vikas Bank, Canara Bank, IOB, Corporation Bank, Andhra Bank and Syndicate Bank.