In a major boost to farmers in Telangana, the state government on Monday issued orders releasing Rs 6,900 crore under Rythu Bandhu scheme. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had announced the decision to release the funds during his speech a day before on the occasion of Telangana formation day.
As a result of this, the farmers will get an enhanced amount of Rs 5,000 per acre each for Rabi and Kharif crops as against Rs 4,000 as was the norm earlier. The government has offered administrative sanctions in this regard as it already allocated Rs 12,000 crore for the Rythu Bandhu scheme.
The state officials were asked to ensure that the amounts are deposited into the farmers’ accounts.
As per guidelines issued by the agriculture ministry, Rythu Bandhu funds will be audited under e-Kuber. Also, the government directed the collectors concerned to form committees to attend complaints at mandal, division and district level.
The government has so far distributed passbooks to 58.33 lakh farmers having 1.43 cr cultivable lands in the state. It is estimated that during rainy season, the farmers take up farm activity in about 1.08 cr acres and in 31.92 lakh acres during Yasangi respectively.
During 2018-19, the government disbursed Rs 5,260.94 cr to Rs 51.50 lakh farmers and Rs 5,244.26 cr to 49.03 lakh farmers.
Agriculture principal secretary Partha Sarathi released the
guidelines for the scheme.About Rythu Bandhu scheme
Rythu Bandhu scheme also Farmers’ Investment
Support Scheme (FISS) is a welfare program to support farmer’s investment for
two crops a year by the Government of Telangana.
The government is providing 58.33 lakh farmers,
₹4000 per acre per season to support the farm investment, twice a year, for
rabi and kharif seasons.
This is a first direct farmer investment support
scheme in India.
The scheme was announced by the Chief Minister
of Telangana, K. Chandrashekhar Rao at Farmers Coordination Committee (Rythu
Samanvaya Samithi) conference at Jayashankar Agriculture University on 25
February 2018.
