KCR to disburse Rs 7,500 cr Rythu Bandhu in November

 Hyderabad: The state government, advancing disbursement of Rythu Bandhu aid for rabi crop, will credit Rs 7,500 crore to accounts of over 70 lakh farmers in November, ahead of Assembly polls expected in December, official sources indicated.

Political analysts cited the disbursement of Rythu Bandhu aid days before the December 7 polls in 2018 for playing a crucial role in BRS’ win then.

Usually, the government credits the aid in January, but keeping in view the upcoming Assembly elections, the government is seeking to advance it.

Official sources said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao discussed the issue with financial department officials and instructed them to arrange Rs 7,500 crore for disbursement in November.

During the 2018 polls, the opposition parties complained to the Election Commission of India (ECI) against the disbursement of Rythu Bandhu in November ahead of Assembly elections polling on December 7.

While the ECI barred BRS from distributing cheques to farmers, it allowed the government to directly transfer money to farmers’ bank accounts on the grounds that the Rythu Bandhu was an ongoing scheme and not a new scheme.

Against this backdrop, the state government feels that there would not be a restriction from ECI for crediting the aid, this time around as well.

In May, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao announced the state government's decision to advance rabi season by a month to save crops from untimely rains and hailstorms in March, during the harvesting stage.

The government will cite the same to ECI for advancing Rythu Bandhu distribution to help farmers meet cultivation costs.