CM Revanth: Cong Govt Spent ₹1.75L Cr On Farmers' Welfare in 30 Months
The Chief Minister urged farmers to adapt to changing climatic conditions, citing scientific predictions of below-normal rainfall this season
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said that the Congress government had spent ₹1.75 lakh crore on the welfare of farmers during its 30 months in office despite inheriting a debt burden of ₹8.11 lakh crore from the previous BRS government. He said the government was spending nearly ₹6,000 crore every month against ₹2,500 crore spent by BRS regime on the farming community through a variety of schemes.
Launching the first phase of the Rythu Bharosa assistance for the ongoing kharif (vaanakalam) season here, the Chief Minister transferred ₹2,482 crore into the bank accounts of 41.37 lakh farmers owning up to two acres. He announced that the government would release ₹9,000 crore within nine days, benefiting over 73 lakh farmers without any restriction on landholding.
Addressing a large gathering of farmers, Revanth Reddy said the government had fulfilled its promise of waiving crop loans up to ₹2 lakh, benefiting 25.35 lakh farmers at a cost of ₹20,000 crore. He said ₹7,000 crore was initially released under Rythu Bharosa soon after the Congress assumed office, and after enhancing the annual assistance to ₹12,000 per acre, the government had deposited ₹27,000 crore into farmers' accounts. With the latest disbursement, the total amount paid under Rythu Bharosa had reached ₹36,000 crore.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the Congress government had spent ₹30,000 crore on free electricity for agriculture at an average of ₹1,000 crore every month, ₹4,000 crore as bonus for fine varieties of paddy and ₹3,500 crore on Rythu Bima.
Revanth Reddy challenged the BRS to a special Assembly debate on farmers' welfare. "Let us discuss what the BRS did in 10 years and what the Congress has achieved in just two-and-a-half years," he said.
He accused the previous BRS government of leaving behind a financially crippled state, when Telangana's debt had increased from ₹69,000 crore at the time of state formation in 2014 to ₹8.11 lakh crore by December 2023 when BRS government demitted office. He alleged that while successive governments over six decades had accumulated only ₹69,000 crore in debt, the "Kalvakuntla family" had pushed the state into an unprecedented debt trap of over ₹8 lakh crore.
He said the Congress had discovered several hidden liabilities after assuming office, including unpaid dues to employees, local bodies, self-help groups, school nutrition suppliers and hostel students. The government had since cleared many pending bills and ensured that government employees receive salaries on the first day of every month.
The Chief Minister accused the BRS government of mismanaging public finances while making extravagant promises and claimed that the Congress had restored fiscal discipline and public confidence over the last 30 months. He said TGSRTC had returned to profitability, Singareni Collieries had been revived and retired employees' dues worth ₹8,000 crore were being addressed. He also said the Dharani land portal had been replaced with Bhu Bharati to resolve long-pending land disputes.
The Chief Minister urged farmers to adapt to changing climatic conditions, citing scientific predictions of below-normal rainfall this season. He advised them to cultivate crops based on rainfall patterns and said seven varieties of fine paddy seeds had been made available through Rythu Vedikas to encourage cultivation of high-demand varieties.
He accused the BRS leadership of spreading misinformation against the government and asserted that the Congress government would continue implementing development projects, including the Musi River rejuvenation, Metro Rail expansion and the Regional Ring Road, despite opposition.
