Karimnagar: To provide investment assistance to farmers- a pioneering initiative in the country-the BRS government had launched the ‘Rythu Bandhu’ scheme at Rajapur village, near Huzurabad in Karimnagar district on May 10, 2018.
Rythu Bandhu provided financial assistance to farmers for every acre of land they owned, regardless of the total extent of their holdings. The subsequent Congress government renamed the scheme as ‘Rythu Bharosa.’
Modifications were introduced to limit the benefit to farmers owning less than 10 acres of land; however, in the current first phase of implementation, the assistance is being disbursed exclusively to farmers owning between one and six acres.
In Karimnagar district, payments totalling Rs 90.425 crore have been disbursed to 188,818 farmers. Within the Karimnagar Assembly constituency—comprising Karimnagar, Karimnagar Rural, and Kothapalli mandals—the government has deposited Rs 7,83,19,841 directly into the bank accounts of approximately 18,087 farmers.
Similarly, in the Choppadandi Assembly constituency, covering Choppadandi, Ramadugu, and Gangadhara mandals, Rythu Bharosa assistance amounting to Rs 19,66,79,851 was provided to 41,120 farmers. In the Huzurabad Assembly constituency, encompassing Huzurabad, Illandakunta, Veenavanka, and Jammikunta mandals—assistance totaling Rs 24,44,04,859 was deposited into the accounts of 50,925 farmers.
The government deposited financial assistance amounting to Rs 13,50,05,000 into the accounts of 26,560 farmers across Chigurumamidi and Saidapur mandals that fall within the Husnabad constituency. Similarly, within the Manakondur constituency—comprising Manakondur, Thimmapur, Ganneruvaram, and Shankarapatnam mandals, the government has deposited Rs 24,98,64,258 into the accounts of 52,126 farmers.
Farmers across Karimnagar district have expressed their delight over the fact that, within two days, financial assistance totalling Rs 90,42,73,809 has been deposited into the bank accounts of 1,88,818 farmers.
Meanwhile, unlike farmers who own agricultural land in their names and receive benefits under schemes such as Rythu Bharosa and other welfare programmes, tenant farmers continue to suffer because of utter neglect of their welfare. Despite relying entirely on agriculture for their livelihood, they remain excluded from Rythu Bandhu, which is designed to recognise only landowners. Furthermore, as tenant farmers have yet to receive official recognition, no official data regarding them is available. This is largely because many revenue officials deny the very existence of tenant farmers within their respective mandals.
To address these shortcomings, the Indiramma Athmiya Bharosa scheme was launched last year to provide support to tenant farmers and landless agricultural labourers. Under this scheme, annual assistance of Rs 12,000 is provided in two installments. Nevertheless, officials acknowledge that reliable data regarding such farmers remains unavailable. Tenant farmers argue that despite promises made in election manifestos, they are not receiving recognition, institutional loans, or benefits.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy released the Rythu Bharosa phase-2 funds on April 20 to around 45 lakh ‘eligible’ farmers in Kataram at Bhupalpally district.
Veeraiah, a tenant farmer from Peddapalli, stated, “We rely entirely on agriculture for our livelihood; however, due to the lack of official status, we remain excluded from all government schemes.”
A revenue officer acknowledged that there have been delays and reductions in the disbursement of funds under the Rythu Bharosa scheme. In fact, he pointed out that the government hasno specific data regarding tenant farmers.
