Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s appeal to the ministers in his government, and his party MLAs, MLCs and MPs to give up the annual Rs 8,000 per acre farmers’ sop voluntarily to help needy farmers from the poorer sections has so far only received lukewarm response.
Mr Rao argues that the amount thus saved would be deposited with farmers’ coordination cou-ncils, which would be utilised for the benefit of farmers and the government will not take back unclaimed amount.
Finance minister Etela Rajender, who owns 10 acres of cultivable land, was the first one to respond positively to the CM’s appeal and announced the giving up of subsidy. Later, the transport minister and his family members, who own over 100 acres, have announced giving up the benefit.
Speaker S. Madhusudhana Chary, who owns 3.5 acres, announced in Assembly that he will not avail the benefit. Mahabubabad MP Sitharam Naik, who owns 3.5 acres and thus eligible for Rs 28,000 sop, too has given up subsidy.
Banda Prakash, who was recently elected to Rajya Sabha and owns 8.5 acres, and MLA Err-abelli Dayakar Rao, who owns 50 acres and eligible for '4 lakh, have both responded positively to the CM’s call.
Janagoan MLA Muthireddy Yadagirireddy, who owns 10 acres, said that he will request the government to utilise the amount he has given up for welfare of students.
