The State government appears to be in a fix over the mode of payment for the ambitious investment assistance scheme that aims to provide ₹4,000 per acre each to farmers every season from the next kharif.
The government had been exploring various provisions like depositing the amount in the accounts of farmers or handing over cheques to them.
The issue figured in the discussions of the Cabinet sub-committee constituted under the chairmanship of Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy.
The first meeting of the Cabinet panel was convened here on Monday to work out modalities for making payments to all eligible beneficiaries. It was attended by Ministers Eatala Rajender, T. Harish Rao, K.T. Rama Rao and Tummala Nageswara Rao, government’s chief advisor Rajiv Sharma and senior officials in addition to representatives from the banking sector. Sources said that there was no unanimity on the mode of payment as the participants expressed doubts whether the deposited amount would serve the intended purpose.
They felt that there was a possibility that the amount could be debited by banks if the farmers have dues. Mr. Srinivas Reddy sought the opinion of the bankers on the issue, who assured to communicate the same in the next meeting slated on January 10. Mr. Srinivas Reddy said the government was committed to fulfil the promise and payments would commence from May 15. The government would evolve a methodology that would be acceptable to all in ensuring that the amount serves its intended purpose.
The recent land record purification exercise had revealed that there were more than 71 lakh operational accounts of farmers across the State and the government would take a final decision on the payment after eliciting the views of all stakeholders.
