The 11th phase of Rythu Bandhu in Telangana state begins today. The government has released Rs. 7,667 crore for the purpose. As many as 70.54 lakh farmers will get Rs. 5,000 per acre for the rainy season crop. Rythu Bandhu’s input assistance is given twice a year which is Rs. 10,000 per acre per year. So far the Telangana government has spent Rs. 72,931 crore for the Rythu Bandhu scheme including this 11th phase. This year, the scheme is being extended to five lakh new farmers in the state.
Rythu Bandhu Samithi chairman and MLC Palla Rajeswar Reddy said as part of welfare measures to the farmers in the state, the government is providing 24-hour free power to 24 lakh borewells, revived 46,000 village tanks, completed pending irrigation projects and built Kaleshwaram project. The government paid Rs. 5,272 crore to 1,05,451 farmers under Rythu Bheema. Each of the deceased farmer’s families gets Rs. 5 lakhs under the scheme. Mr Rajeshwar Reddy said a total of Rs. 17,351 crore loan was waived benefitting 40.74 lakh farmers. The government also extended subsidies to drip irrigation to 3.50 lakh acres spending Rs. 2,000 crores.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao