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.
The CM made an appeal to this effect on February 26 while addressing a regional conference of Farmers’ Coordination Councils. In the meeting, Mr Rao announced his decision of giving up the sop voluntarily and urged all rich farmers to emulate him. Mr Rao owns an 85-acre farm in Erravelli near the city outskirts, making him eligible to claim Rs 6.8 lakh every year. However, only three ministers in the state cabinet, besides 10 MLAs and two MPs, have offered to give up subsidy so far.
The CM has decided to appeal again to all rich farmers to give up subsidy during the ensuing TRS Plenary on April 27.
