HYDERABAD: The state government resumed disbursal of Rythu Bandhu aid, with farmers owning over five acres of land also getting the direct account transfer of the benefit over a month since the payment was started on June 26. The government plans to clear the arrears by August 10.
While the disbursal started on June 26, with farmers owning up to an acre first getting the aid and farmers owning up to five acres covered until June 30, there was no payment in July, till the last week.
The state government did not provide any reason for the delay, but the fund crunch faced by the government is well documented.
The suspension of fund disbursal in July left 13 lakh farmers in the lurch, who rushed to the agriculture department offices and banks only to be informed that the government was yet to release funds.
On July 24, the finance department released Rs 83 crore to 55,130 farmers who owned up to five acres of land, following which Rs 129 crore was released on July 27 to cover 49,990 farmers owning up to 5.11 acres. On July 28, another Rs 137 crore was released to cover 49,990 farmers owning up to 5.26 acres.
With this, the state government has covered 63.35 lakh farmers owning up to 5.26 acres by releasing Rs 5,695 crore. However, another Rs 2,000 crore is needed to cover about seven lakh farmers.
