₹426 Cr Rythu Bandhu Funds Needed for Podu Pattas

Hyderabad: The Telangana state government will need to provide an additional ₹426,37,90,000 a year towards Rythu Bandhu cash incentive to the podu patta claims that have been approved for distribution beginning on Friday.

According to a June 24 communication from the commissioner of agriculture to all district collectors, the commissioner of tribal welfare had informed that a total of 1,50,415 claims for podu pattas have been approved in 26 districts of Telangana covering 4,26,379 acres of forest land. The government provides ₹5,000 per acre for two crop seasons a year for each acre under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, and at the rate of ₹10,000 per acre per year, the government will need to provide nearly ₹426.38 crore under the scheme to those who will be given the pattas.

In the letter, the agriculture commissioner said collectors have been instructed to collect bank details of the “new” claimants, and that mandal level officers have collected bank details of the intended beneficiaries, and that all these details must be updated in the Rythu Bandhu portal by July 3.