Telangana Releases Rs 2,482 Crore Under Rythu Bharosa for 41.37 Lakh Farmers
The Telangana government has released Rs 2,482 crore under the Rythu Bharosa scheme, with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announcing that the funds have been directly credited to the bank accounts of 41.37 lakh farmers in the first phase. The financial assistance was unveiled during the Rythu Bharosa public meeting held at Shilpakala Vedika in Hyderabad, where the Chief Minister said the initiative is intended to reduce cultivation costs and strengthen the state's agricultural sector.
According to Revanth Reddy, the first phase covers farmers owning up to two acres of agricultural land. He said the government's objective is to ease the investment burden on farmers while making agriculture a more profitable occupation. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister stated that the government has focused on policies aimed at improving the welfare of farmers during its 30 months in office.
He said the administration is working to create conditions in which farming is viewed as a sustainable and rewarding livelihood rather than a financial burden. The direct transfer of assistance under Rythu Bharosa, he added, is part of the government's broader strategy to support agricultural households through timely financial aid.
Remarks on State Finances
During his address, Revanth Reddy also commented on the state's financial position, drawing comparisons between Telangana's debt at the time of its formation and its liabilities in 2023.
The Chief Minister said Telangana's debt stood at Rs 69,000 crore when the state was formed and had increased to Rs 8.11 lakh crore by 2023. He alleged that nearly Rs 7 lakh crore had been borrowed during the previous decade, accusing the former government led by K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) of placing a significant financial burden on the state.
Revanth Reddy said his government is now dealing with the financial consequences of decisions taken by the previous administration. He also criticised the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government over its handling of the state's finances, alleging that the current administration has inherited outstanding liabilities.
Employee Salaries and Governance
The Chief Minister further claimed that government employees had previously experienced delays in receiving salaries, with payments allegedly being made in instalments under the earlier administration.
He said the present government has restored regular salary payments and is ensuring that employees receive their wages on the first day of every month. Revanth Reddy described this as part of the government's commitment to improving governance and administrative efficiency.
The Chief Minister also stated that a total of Rs 36,000 crore has so far been provided to farmers under the Rythu Bharosa scheme.
Support Measures for Farmers
Highlighting the state's agricultural spending, Revanth Reddy rejected earlier allegations that a Congress government would discontinue free electricity for farmers. He said it was the Congress government that introduced free power for farmers in 2004.
He stated that the Telangana government currently spends around Rs 6,000 crore every month on farmer welfare initiatives. According to the Chief Minister, this includes approximately Rs 30,000 crore towards free electricity for agriculture, Rs 4,000 crore for the Rythu Bima crop insurance programme, and Rs 80,000 crore for the procurement of paddy from farmers.
The release of the latest Rythu Bharosa instalment marks another round of direct financial assistance to eligible farmers as the state continues to implement its agricultural support programmes.