There was a huge response for the Rythu Bandhu scheme across the district on Thursday. MLA Chinta Prabhakar and Collector Vasam Venkateswarlu launched the programme here in Sadasahivapet mandal. The first cheque was handed over to Jonnada Paramma, a 70-year-old woman who has 1.13 acres. Jonnada Paramma and M. Manaiah said the assistance would encourage farmers to make good beginning for farm activity.
“The assistance was aimed at bringing all the farmers under one umbrella and transforms their lives for better. Never before had any Chief Minister dared to dream to extend such an assistance,” said Mr. Prabhakar.
Mr. Venkateswarlu said that as many as 2,71,705 farmers in 597 villages would get ₹313 crore as farm assistance under the scheme.
What about tenant farmers?
Induri Mallaiah, who has 2.2 acres of land has been cultivating another nine acres land on lease and the landowner is native of the same village. Same was the case of Ch. Saibaba, M. Ramulu, M. Lakshmaiah and Bayagri Kishtaiah. “We are cultivating the lands on lease but were denied the input assistance. It was not fair on the part of government. In addition to the lease amount being paid by us, the government has been extending the financial assistance for them whereas we were denied,” the tenant farmers fumed.
‘How we are responsible for officials’ mistakes?’
K. Shamamma, T. Shantamma, B. Nagamma and T. Manemma said they were waiting with the hope that officials will come and explain why their names went missing. “We have not been given slips and we do not know the reason. As there was some error our passbooks were not printed and hence there were no cheques. But, how we are responsible for that,” Irigipally Mallesham, whose did not get the cheque said.
Kadiyam launches
Warangal Correspondent: Launching the scheme at Singaram village in Inavolu mandal here on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari distributed the passbooks and cheques among the beneficiaries.
District Collector K. Amrapali said a total of ₹69.41 crore is being distributed to as many as 78,000 farmers in the district under the Rythu Bandhu scheme.
MLA Aruri Ramesh, Mayor N. Narender, KUDA chairman M. Yadava Reddy and others were present.
MLAs delay function
NIZAMABAD Special Correspondent writes: In about 57 villages of 25 mandals, new pattadar passbooks and cheques for farm investment in the kharif were distributed on Thursday. With the scorching heat and late attendance of the MLAs for the inaugural function, cheque distribution on the first day today, was slow. Hence, out of 17,761 cheques scheduled to be delivered only 3,451 were given away, registering 19%, according to District Revenue Officer B. Vinode Kumar. Meanwhile, the authorities decided to distribute 23,808 cheques in 58 villages of 25 mandals on the second day tomorrow.
The Collector M. Ram Mohan Rao launched it at Lingampally of Rudrur mandal while the Mission Bhagiratha chairman V. Prashanth Reddy at Donkal of Morthad mandal and ZP chairman D. Raju at Annaram of Pitlam mandal.
The Collector later attended the inaugural meetings at Suleman Farm and Rayakur in the mandal and at Laxampur in Nizamabad rural mandal.
He appealed to farmers not to use the money for other expenses and avail it for the cultivation in the kharif.
However, in a couple of villages digital signatures of a few farmers did not tally and in some others beneficiary pictures were not there. Few mistakes regarding the gender were also found in some cases.
B. Vinode Kumar said that all those passbooks were taken back and sent for reprint.
Cheques were delivered to farmers even if there were mistakes in passbooks, he said and added that about 28,000 NRI farmers were identified and cheques would be given to them later when they were present in person.
Farmers’ welfare
SIDDIPET Special Correspondent: Mr. Harish Rao participated in Rythu Bandhu programme held at Bangla Venkatapur in Gajwel mandal on Thursday and handed over cheques and passbooks to as many as 946 farmers. He said that the government would extend the assistance till the farmers are stabilised. “We are making a Herculean effort to bring Kaleshwaram water and irrigate as much as 37 lakh acres. The Congress party leaders have been making baseless allegations against the government which has been offering round-the-clock power,” said Mr. Harish Rao.
Ministers launch scheme
Adilabad Correspondent: The Rythu Bandhu scheme was launched in the four districts which constituted erstwhile undivided Adilabad on Thursday. Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna launched it at Chanda (T) village in Adilabad district and Housing Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy launched it in Nirmal district at Ellapalli village. In Mancherial district Government Whip Nallala Odelu and MLC Puranam Satish initiated distribution of pattadar passbooks and cheques to farmers at Chennur mandal and at Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, it was MLA Kova Laxmi who started it in Buruguda in Asifabad mandal. Collectors D. Divya of Adilabad, M. Prashanthi of Nirmal, R.V. Karnan of Mancherial and other officials also participated.
In Chanda (T), an aged woman farmer fainted due to the heat.
At Bazarhatnoor mandal in Adilabad district MP G. Nagesh announced contributing ₹13,700 he received under Rythu Bandhu to government treasury. So did Adilabad Agriculture Market Committee chairman Are Rajanna who contributed the ₹48,000 he got as investment support for his 12 acres of land.
‘A festival’
SURYAPET/NALGONDA reporter: Deputy Chief Minister (Revenue) Mahmood Ali on Thursday inaugurated Rythu Bandhu in Suryapet.
A host of leaders including Home Minister Nayini Narsimha Reddy, Nalgonda MP and Rythu Samanvaya Samithi Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy believed the first-of-its-kind scheme will end farmers’ suicides in the State. Agriculture is all set to become a festival, also supported by ₹5 lakh insurance to individual farmers, said Minister for Energy and SC Development G. Jagadish Reddy.
At Urumadla village in Chityala mandal, Gutha Sukhender Reddy voluntarily gave up the investment cheque of ₹ 1.60 lakh to District Collector Gaurav Uppal.
