Rythu Bharosa from Sankranthi: Tummala

Addressing the Assembly to initiate a discussion on Rythu Bharosa he said, “We formed a cabinet sub-committee to arrive at collective opinion and toured all the districts and elicited feedback. Some video conferences were also held. The PM Kisan has its own modalities all of which have to be thoroughly thought of. In all, Rs 72,000 crores was given to farmers under the scheme. After we took over we paid Rs 7,825 crores.”

BRS working president thanked the agriculture minister for acknowledging the introduction of the scheme by them. The BRS leader said, “The scheme was emulated by the Centre to start the PM Kisan though they will be averse to acknowledging it publicly. The government should clarify if the PM Kisan norms will be considered. If they are invoked, only 25 per cent of the farmers in our state will be eligible for the Rythu Bharosa scheme. There should be clarity if the 4.5 lakh (Recognition of Forest Rights Act) ROFR lands tilled by them will get the benefit for two crop seasons as they don’t have water
facility.”

Crops like cotton grown on 48 lakh acres are spread over seven to eight months and only one crop can be raised per year. Will this land get one installment or two should be clarified? he asked.

Explaining the rationale for not keeping a ceiling for the beneficiaries of the scheme, KTR informed that farmers who have 30 to 40 acres were becoming labourers as farming was not profitable when the state was formed. Drought was the norm and farmers were digging bore wells left right and center. Fertilizers had to be sold in police stations. 11 per cent of farmer suicides were from Telangana. So the government gave 24 hours power.

Komatireddy Venkat Reddy interjected and said, “The patent for free power goes to the Congress government. We gave it for 9 hours. I had exposed the 24 hour claim by visiting power substations. They hardly gave 10 to 14 hours power. The logbooks of the stations from across the state were brought to Hyderabad to avoid being caught red-handed.”

Intervening at this juncture, Tummala said, “No decision has been taken on the modalities. The house and farmers should not be misled by the members. This is only a discussion to elicit opinions of the members and they should stick to the subject.”

KTR blamed the government for seeking to water down the Rythu Bharosa scheme and said the government at Rs 7,500 per acre owes Rs 26,755 crores to farmers. 98 per cent of farmers have less than 10 acres. The scheme was
backed by economists Arvind Subramanian, Ashok Gulati and Raghuram Rajan and was adopted by states like West Bengal and Orissa.

The scheme should be continued as is, he said. Minister for panchayati raj D. Seethakka asked if those getting
Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh salary should also get Rythu Bandhu. The scheme served as patta pettubadi (income for document) and not panta pettubadi (crop input help).

BJP MLA Payal Shankar reminded that the PM Kisan funds have been deposited sans interruption unlike the state government. Congress came to power only because of farmers. Only 64,000 farmers have more than 10 acres and hence the scheme should be continued sans cuts.