Debt-hit Telangana defaults on Rythu Bandhu to 12 L farmers

So far, over 6,000 farmers have committed suicide. The CM never thought of a loan waiver, but puts up a big show as if he is some messiah of farmers.

— N. UTTAM KUMAR REDDY,

TPCC president

A debt-laden Telangana, on the throes of a financial crunch, has not paid Rythu Bandhu financial assistance to over 12 lakh farmers, under the scheme for the current Rabi season. Some of these farmers who have not got the money include those who were in the list of beneficiaries during the Kharif season, besides several

newly added farmers in the list for this season.

The government recently released `5,100 crore to extend assistance to farmers as against the estimated `6,150 crore actual amount required to service all farmers.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was exploiting the Rythu Bandhu scheme as a vote yielding machine whenever elections were around.

— DR K. LAXMAN

BJP state president

Congress MP A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday demanded that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao fulfil his promises made to farmers during the assembly elections in 2018.

In an open letter to Chief Minister on suicides by farmers of the state, the MP pointed out that the CM gave a lecture for 12 hours at the collectors meeting on Tuesday. However, he could not even spare five minutes to discuss the problems being faced by farmers.

He pointed out that the National Crime Records Bureau lists Telangana as standing third in the country for the highest number of suicides by farmers. He underlined that Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima schemes have failed in controlling suicides by farmers in the state. Mr Reddy said, “In the past six years, 5,912 farmers in Telangana have committed suicide, which means three suicides a day. One can clearly understand what the situation in the state is”.

He demanded that the state government allot sufficient budget to fulfil all the promises made by the CM to farmers, wondering why the Chief Minister has not yet implemented the promised waiver of loans up to `1 lakh taken by farmers. The MP said appointing a businessman as president of Rythu Samanvaya Samithi itself shows the commitment of Chandrasekhar Rao to farmers’ welfare.

■ MR REDDY said in the past six years, 5,912 farmers in Telangana have committed suicide which translates to three suicides a day.