Big boost to BRS Govt: Election Commission clears payment of Rythu Bandhu benefit

HYDERABAD: In a big boost to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Government in Telangana, the Election Commission of India has cleared the release of the last leg of Rythu Bandhu direct benefit transfer scheme. This is the last leg of the scheme for this year and is going to benefit about 70 lakh farmers at the rate of Rs.5,000 each. The Telangana Government would have to release about Rs.350 crore in this instalment.

An allocation of ₹12,000 crores was made in 2018-19 State budget. It was launched on May 10, 2018 at Dharmarajpalli village in Karimnagar. Initially, the scheme was extended to close to six lakh farmers, but later the scope was extended to all farmers. The scheme was launched with Rs.4,000 an acre per season to all farmers and eventually the amount has been enhanced to Rs. 5,000 an acre per season since 2019.

The KCR Government, which is a pioneer in the country to give the DBT to farmers for agricultural input support, has promised to enhance the amount to Rs.13,000 an acre immediately if voted to power in the State soon after assuming the office. The amount was proposed to be enhanced to Rs.16,000 in a phased manner by the fifth year.

Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Vikas Raj had earlier said that the Telangana Government had sought permission of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to let it disburse the Rythu Bandhu money from November 24. The CEO received a communication on Friday from the ECI consenting to proposal of the State Government.

The scheme would benefit close to 7 million farmers and 90 per cent of the beneficiaries have less than 10 acres of landholding. Only 1.60 percent of the farmers have more than 10 acres of land. The scheme enables about 60 percent of Telangana’s population to derive the benefit.